Dr. John McKeon
John is currently the CEO of the Indoor Air Innovation & Research (iAIR) Group, a company he founded while working as an Emergency Room Doctor. John’s initial curiosity was sparked by the interplay between the built environment and asthma and allergy trigger factors within indoor spaces. His attention was drawn to the significant amount of time individuals spend indoors, amounting to approximately 80% of their time, juxtaposed with EPA findings indicating indoor air pollution levels may be up to five times higher than outdoor air.
Recognizing his role as a clinician primarily addressing the downstream effects of poor indoor air quality through pharmaceutical interventions, John realized the necessity of shifting towards a proactive ‘upstream’ approach centered on patient education and environmental control.
This realization marked the inception of John’s journey into exploring the interconnectedness between the built environment and health outcomes. Initially focusing on individuals affected by asthma and allergies, John expanded his research endeavors to serve as a liaison between construction professionals, interior design experts, and healthcare professionals. His mission is to facilitate collaboration and promote holistic solutions aimed at optimizing indoor environments for enhanced health and well-being.
Throughout his career, he has led the development of an international intellectual property portfolio of patents and trademark applications and negotiated complex licensing agreements with large multinationals. As an expert in healthcare entrepreneurship, he is always on the lookout for new opportunities and assignments in life sciences, digital health and medical device sectors.
John is a medical entrepreneur who qualified as a doctor from Trinity College Dublin in 1996, is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and also holds his United States Medical Licensing exams.
December 3, 2024
08:10am - 08:25am EST
Bridging Indoor Air Quality and Indoor Environmental Quality Metrics with Health Outcome Metrics
The indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of our buildings and homes plays a critical role in our health and well-being, resulting in ongoing research focused on creating comfortable and health-optimized indoor spaces. This research highlights the evolving understanding of IEQ and its connection to human health, emphasizing the need for comprehensive standards that assess and enhance indoor environments. Many current IAQ sensors face challenges related to accuracy, calibration, and real-time responsiveness, making it difficult to reliably assess their direct impact on occupant health. This demonstrates the need to further explore the integration of health-based metrics to derive meaningful insights.
A recent ASHRAE strategic plan calls for the development of IEQ metrics that could integrate health-based measures, such as biomarkers. Biomarkers—biological indicators that provide objective data on physiological changes—are increasingly recognized for their potential to assess the impact of indoor pollutants on human health. This paper explores various types of biomarkers, including vital signs, respiratory markers, and blood and urinary indicators, to measure short- and long-term exposures to indoor pollutants. Wearable sensors and real-time environmental monitoring technologies also offer promising opportunities for continuous IEQ assessment, providing real-time insights into how indoor environments can affect health. Additionally, integrating subjective data from occupant surveys with objective biomarker data can offer a more holistic approach to understanding IEQ’s impact on perceived well-being.
However, challenges such as standardization, validation, and ethical considerations related to data privacy must be addressed. This paper advocates for multidisciplinary collaboration among researchers, policymakers, architects, and engineers to advance IEQ metrics and create healthier indoor environments. This effort should be pursued with privacy, data security, and public trust kept at the forefront of decision-making. Continued research in this field will contribute to improved public health outcomes and enhance the quality of indoor spaces for future generations.
CEO
Indoor Air Innovation & Research (iAIR) Group, US