Research directions
Indoor air pollutants affecting the respiratory health of the general population
Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of infections, lung cancer and chronic lung diseases such as asthma.
In particular, the exposure to moulds has been associated with the development of respiratory problems such as asthma or allergic rhinitis in young children, as well as a worsening of respiratory pathologies in adults and the elderly. Their proliferation in indoor environment was associated with water leakage or insufficient ventilation. An overview of the situation in the Romande houses - rural, peri-urban and urban dwellings - has been undertaken to help prevent respiratory deterioration in general population. To respond this need, a research program on the exposure to moulds in the indoor environment and respiratory health in older residents living in Lausanne was initiated in February 2016 in collaboration between the DSTE (previously IST) and DESS (previously IUMSP) at Unisanté. Another research program is conducted in collaboration between Unisanté, the Romand center for indoor air quality and radon, the School of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg and EPFL on indoor air quality in energy-efficient dwellings in Switzerland.
Emergent sources of exposure in indoor environment also need to be survey. For example, innovative ecological shower systems show - decrease of water droplets and increase in water pressure - characteristics that might increase the risk of lung infection by Legionella. To respond this need, a research program financially supported by Innosuisse was initiated in February 2018 in collaboration between Unisanté and Gjosa SA.
