Periodic Reporting for period 2 - K-HEALTHinAIR (Knowledge for improving indoor AIR quality and HEALTH)
Reporting period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-08-31
The overarching aim of K-HEALTHinAIR is to integrate a broad range of expertise and technologies to deliver actionable insights and solutions that improve public health outcomes related to AQ. The project’s goals include the identification of IAQ determinants, development of innovative monitoring tools and methodologies, and dissemination of knowledge to support policy and decision-making processes at multiple levels.
K-HEALTHinAIR aims to achieve these objectives through a structured approach involving extensive data collection, qualitative and quantitative analyses, and guideline development for real-world interventions. By addressing the indoor air quality in settings such as hospitals, homes, schools, and public transportation systems, the project targets significant societal impact, offering guidance and solutions.
This ambitious project not only seeks to elevate the state of the art in IAQ research but also aims to engage and influence policy at the European level jointly with the sister projects participating in the IDEAL cluster, ensuring that the findings and technologies developed are accessible and practical for implementation to benefit a wide audience including public authorities, policymakers, and the general public.
K-HEALTHinAIR aims to achieve these objectives through a structured approach involving extensive data collection, qualitative and quantitative analyses, and guideline development for real-world interventions. By addressing the indoor air quality in settings such as hospitals, homes, schools, and public transportation systems, the project targets significant societal impact, offering guidance and solutions.
This ambitious project not only seeks to elevate the state of the art in IAQ research but also aims to engage and influence policy at the European level jointly with the sister projects participating in the IDEAL cluster, ensuring that the findings and technologies developed are accessible and practical for implementation to benefit a wide audience including public authorities, policymakers, and the general public.
During RP2, K-HEALTHinAIR has continued advancing its scientific, technological and operational activities aimed at assessing the impact of indoor air quality (IAQ) on health across Europe. Minor delays were encountered, mainly related to ethical approvals, monitoring deployment in some scenarios and the complexity of integrating multi-country datasets; however, overall progress has remained aligned with the project planning.
IAQ monitoring campaigns have been carried out in most targeted environments, including homes, hospitals, schools, offices and other public settings. A harmonised monitoring protocol supported the collection of a wide dataset covering chemical pollutants, particulate matter and biological contaminants. These data have been integrated into a centralised database, enabling initial cross-scenario analyses and comparative assessments of pollutant levels and influencing factors across different indoor environments.
In parallel, data processing and exploratory analyses have progressed, combining continuous monitoring data with campaign-based measurements, building characteristics, ventilation practices and occupant behaviour. Multivariate approaches are being applied to identify key determinants of IAQ and to characterise exposure patterns. Initial analyses of health questionnaires and available clinical data have started, establishing the basis for linking IAQ conditions with respiratory health outcomes, particularly in sensitive population groups. The preliminary identification of IAQ determinants has been completed and will be further refined as additional data become available.
Progress has also been made in the development and validation of user-oriented IAQ monitoring solutions. Low-cost sensors for carbon dioxide, particulate matter and formaldehyde have been evaluated against reference instruments, and calibration functions have been derived. The portable monitoring system has been tested in multiple real-world environments, supporting its use for continuous IAQ assessment. In addition, work on bio-sensing approaches for fungal metabolites has advanced, including nanoparticle functionalisation and initial prototype validation.
The project’s digital infrastructure has evolved towards an operational Open Access Platform. The platform enables sensor registration, data upload, storage and visualisation in compliance with GDPR requirements. Interfaces for external data integration and analytical functionalities are under development, supporting data exchange within the consortium and preparing for future wider use.
Dissemination, communication and exploitation activities have continued throughout the period, strengthening the project’s visibility through digital channels, newsletters and participation in relevant events and conferences. The exploitation strategy is being developed with a focus on the post-project sustainability of the monitoring tools and the digital platform. Gender and ethical aspects remain integrated across project activities.
Overall, the work carried out during the reporting period has consolidated the foundations required for the final phase of the project. The available datasets, validated monitoring solutions and ongoing analyses provide a consistent basis for the synthesis of health-relevant evidence and policy-oriented outcomes in the remaining project duration.
IAQ monitoring campaigns have been carried out in most targeted environments, including homes, hospitals, schools, offices and other public settings. A harmonised monitoring protocol supported the collection of a wide dataset covering chemical pollutants, particulate matter and biological contaminants. These data have been integrated into a centralised database, enabling initial cross-scenario analyses and comparative assessments of pollutant levels and influencing factors across different indoor environments.
In parallel, data processing and exploratory analyses have progressed, combining continuous monitoring data with campaign-based measurements, building characteristics, ventilation practices and occupant behaviour. Multivariate approaches are being applied to identify key determinants of IAQ and to characterise exposure patterns. Initial analyses of health questionnaires and available clinical data have started, establishing the basis for linking IAQ conditions with respiratory health outcomes, particularly in sensitive population groups. The preliminary identification of IAQ determinants has been completed and will be further refined as additional data become available.
Progress has also been made in the development and validation of user-oriented IAQ monitoring solutions. Low-cost sensors for carbon dioxide, particulate matter and formaldehyde have been evaluated against reference instruments, and calibration functions have been derived. The portable monitoring system has been tested in multiple real-world environments, supporting its use for continuous IAQ assessment. In addition, work on bio-sensing approaches for fungal metabolites has advanced, including nanoparticle functionalisation and initial prototype validation.
The project’s digital infrastructure has evolved towards an operational Open Access Platform. The platform enables sensor registration, data upload, storage and visualisation in compliance with GDPR requirements. Interfaces for external data integration and analytical functionalities are under development, supporting data exchange within the consortium and preparing for future wider use.
Dissemination, communication and exploitation activities have continued throughout the period, strengthening the project’s visibility through digital channels, newsletters and participation in relevant events and conferences. The exploitation strategy is being developed with a focus on the post-project sustainability of the monitoring tools and the digital platform. Gender and ethical aspects remain integrated across project activities.
Overall, the work carried out during the reporting period has consolidated the foundations required for the final phase of the project. The available datasets, validated monitoring solutions and ongoing analyses provide a consistent basis for the synthesis of health-relevant evidence and policy-oriented outcomes in the remaining project duration.
K-HEALTHinAIR contributes substantially to advancing the state of the art in indoor air research by bridging monitoring technology, exposure science and health data.
The validation of low-cost sensors and their comparison with reference equipment have provided new insight into their performance, uncertainty, and applicability in real-world settings. The project has produced harmonised datasets covering multiple pollutants and indoor typologies, offering an unprecedented basis for evaluating IAQ variability across Europe.
The development of advanced algorithms enables the estimation of exposure profiles and identification of emission sources under diverse conditions. A prototype model integrating IAQ data, building parameters and occupancy patterns supports the definition of personalised indoor air indexes and health-relevant indicators.
In parallel, the project has designed and tested clinical and behavioural protocols linking IAQ data with respiratory health indicators, particularly in sensitive populations such as chronic respiratory patients and children. These approaches represent a significant step towards evidence-based recommendations for IAQ management.
The Open Access Platform constitutes another major result, providing a data-driven environment for storing, analysing and sharing information. Its interoperability framework allows future integration with European data spaces and environmental health infrastructures.
Finally, the collaboration within the IDEAL cluster amplifies the project’s scientific impact, enabling joint methodological development, co-creation of policy briefs, and shared dissemination to reinforce Europe’s leadership in healthy indoor environments.
The validation of low-cost sensors and their comparison with reference equipment have provided new insight into their performance, uncertainty, and applicability in real-world settings. The project has produced harmonised datasets covering multiple pollutants and indoor typologies, offering an unprecedented basis for evaluating IAQ variability across Europe.
The development of advanced algorithms enables the estimation of exposure profiles and identification of emission sources under diverse conditions. A prototype model integrating IAQ data, building parameters and occupancy patterns supports the definition of personalised indoor air indexes and health-relevant indicators.
In parallel, the project has designed and tested clinical and behavioural protocols linking IAQ data with respiratory health indicators, particularly in sensitive populations such as chronic respiratory patients and children. These approaches represent a significant step towards evidence-based recommendations for IAQ management.
The Open Access Platform constitutes another major result, providing a data-driven environment for storing, analysing and sharing information. Its interoperability framework allows future integration with European data spaces and environmental health infrastructures.
Finally, the collaboration within the IDEAL cluster amplifies the project’s scientific impact, enabling joint methodological development, co-creation of policy briefs, and shared dissemination to reinforce Europe’s leadership in healthy indoor environments.