Air quality sensor lending libraries: Bringing home public health

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed an important vulnerability in the Canadian built environment: poor ventilation in homes, offices, and other public and private settings. Since then, numerous epidemiological and outbreak investigations have shown that adequate ventilation is one of the key health protective measures necessary to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. However, poor ventilation is not a problem only during respiratory pandemics. The connection between poor ventilation and COVID-19 transmission has also elevated the general importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) and renewed interest in other known and serious IAQ risks, such as particulate matter, radon, and volatile organic compounds.

The advent of “libraries of things” has created new opportunities to address poor IAQ. Libraries of things are non-traditional collections that allow library members to check out equipment or devices, such as an air sensor, in the same way that they would borrow a book. Recently, the NCCEH assisted with the development of educational materials for a CO2 sensor lending project in Peterborough, ON. This project was developed in partnership with Peterborough Public Library and Peterborough Public Health and involved a number of other private sector and academic partners. Early survey findings from this project indicate strong interest among community members and opportunities to expand the program. Importantly, respondents noted that access to a CO2 sensor had given them new insight into IAQ, and that they may not have had this opportunity without the library’s loan program.

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