Concept Introductions

The aim of this concept is to achieve high levels of indoor air quality across a building's lifetime through diverse strategies that include source elimination or reduction, active and passive building design, and operation strategies and human behavior.

air

People spend approximately ___% of their time indoors.

90

Less severe symptoms of indoor air pollutant exposure (4):

headaches, dry throat, eye irritation, & runny nose

More severe symptoms of indoor air pollutant exposure (3) :

asthma attacks, infection with Legionella bacteria, & carbon monoxide poisoning

Annually in the U.S., indoor pollution contributes to ___ of cancer deaths and ___ of respiratory health issues.

thousands, hundreds of thousands

Besides health concerns, estimates by the EPA suggest that net avoidable costs associated with indoor air pollution amount to well over ___ annually.

$100 billion

% of the net avoidable costs due to avoidable deaths from radon and environmental tobacco smoke:

45

% of the net avoidable costs due to lost productivity:

45

% of the net avoidable costs due to avoidable respiratory diseases:

10

The most common indoor air contaminants are ___.

combustion sources

Examples of indoor combustion sources (4):

candles, tobacco products, stoves, & furnaces/fireplaces

Indoor air pollutants released from combustion sources (2):

carbon monoxide & nitrogen dioxide

VOCs or SVOCs are emitted by household items such as (6):

building materials, furnishings, fabrics, cleaning products, personal care products, & air fresheners

The goal of clean indoor air necessitates the involvement of ___ and ___ in conversations and the implementation of adequate approaches.

professionals & building users

Some WELL features require the installation of a specific treatment method or technology although the following methods can manage the indoor air quality (3):

eliminating the sources of air pollution, adequate design solutions, & human behavior modification

Household air pollution is the ___ most important cause of ill health for the world's population (per a recent global burden of disease study).

10th

WHO estimated that air pollution accounted for about ___ premature deaths, globally, in 2012.

7 million

Of the premature deaths that air pollution was responsible for in 2012, approximately ___ were children under 5 years old.

600,000

This concept seeks to implement holistic design strategies to promote clean air and minimize human exposure to harmful contaminants, in order to maximize benefits to productivity, well-being, and health.

air

The aim of this concept is to increase the rate of adequate hydration in building users, reduce health risks due to contaminated water and excessive moisture within buildings, and provide adequate sanitation through better infrastructure design and operations coupled with awareness and maintenance of water quality.

water

Nearly ___ of the human body is composed of water.

2/3

Water is the *___* of cells and the ___ of fluid between cells.

major component, dominant component

Water is the ___ for the transport of nutrients and waste throughout the body.

medium

Water helps to regulate the ___.

internal body temperature

Water intake guidelines are dependent on these factors (3):

age, sex, & pregnancy status

Range \[in oz\] of water recommended in adults for daily water consumption:

9-125

The daily recommended water intake values are appropriate to offset what leaves the body through (3):

respiration, perspiration, & excretion

Many people are ___ hydrated, even where safe water is at the tap.

inadequately

People who mistrust the safety of their water can be more likely to have ___ intake of water and ___ intake of sugar-sweetened beverages.

lower, higher

Over the last century, many parts of the world saw dramatic ___ in the quality of their drinking water.

improvements

The improvements in drinking water quality triggered massive reductions in the prevalence of ___.

infectious diseases

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognize this as one of the ten greatest public health achievements of the 20th century.

improved water quality

Poor water quality risk has increased recently from these sources (3):

industrial, agricultural, & pharmaceutical

___ in water can impair oxygen transport in infants.

nitrate

___ in water can impair neurodevelopment in children.

lead exposure

Some of the chemicals used for disinfecting drinking water may combine with natural organic matter and generate byproducts sometimes correlated with reproductive disease and cancer such as ___ and ___.

THMs & HAAs

Due to widely ___ water quality, it's important to identify which (if any) contaminants are of concern on the local scale.

varying

Frequent uses of water within a building include (4):

heating and cooling systems, irrigation, pools/baths, general appliances

Prime mold growth conditions are establish when ___ wets materials not intended to come into contact with water.

water

Universal access to good water, sanitation, and hygiene are often grouped in public health approaches yet are ___ of each other.

interdependent

This concept requires the availability of fruits and vegetables as well as nutritional transparency.

nourishment

This concept encourages the creation of food environments where the healthiest choice = the easiest choice.

nourishment

Healthy diets have the potential to nurture human health and prevent several diet-related diseases including (3):

cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, & diabetes

___ is a top contributor to the global burden of disease.

poor nutrition

More than 1 in every 5 deaths globally is due to:

poor nutirition

___ are a greater risk to morbidity and mortality than drug, alcohol, and tobacco use combined.

unhealthy diets

Much of the population is ___ and suffering from micronutrient deficiencies as well.

malnourished

Overweight, obesity, and non-communicable diseases are becoming more ___.

popular

Diets around the world are generally low in (5):

fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, & seeds

Diets around the world are characterized by increasing intakes of highly processed foods including (2):

refined sugars and oils & a growing consumption of meat

Individual dietary choices have the potential to shift global dietary patterns toward ___, providing major health benefits and preventing diet-related diseases

healthier diets

Diets link (3):

human health, environmental health, & sustainability

The current global transition towards unhealthy and unsustainably produced food is threatening global food systems as food production remains one of the largest ___ to global environmental change.

contributors

In 2019, for the first time ever, the EAT-Lancet Commission developed global scientific targets for a healthy reference diet based on the best available evidence for (2):

healthy diets & sustainable food production

Given the strong connection between food production – availability – consumption, global achievement of healthy diets from sustainable food systems requires a ___.

global food transformation

___ are influenced by a complex mixture of personal, cultural, and environmental factors – including the buildings and communities where we spend the majority of our time and consume the majority of our meals

dietary patterns

The way our food environments are designed and operated + the availability and access to foods and beverages in these environments has the potential to support ___ and improve ___ with the health of the planet in mind.

healthy diets & human health

Research shows that ___ in nourishment is more likely to occur when environmental conditions and influences are aligned to support individual behaviors.

individual change

Improving diet quality and eating behaviors requires a ___ approach, which includes both supportive policies and environmental change.

holistic

This concept supports healthy and sustainable eating patterns by increasing access to fruits and vegetables, limiting the availability of highly processed foods, and designing environments that nudge individuals toward healthier choices.

nourishment

This concept promotes exposure to light + aims to create lighting environments that promote visual, mental, and biological health.

light

___ is the main driver of the visual and circadian systems.

light

Light enters the body through the eye where it is sensed by ___ in the retina.

photoreceptors

Humans are ___, innately prone to wakefulness during the day and sleepiness at night.

diurnal

Light exposure simulates the ___ system.

circadian

The circadian system starts in the brain and regulates physiological rhythms throughout the body's tissues and organs – such as ___ and ___.

hormone levels, the sleep-wake cycle

Defined as the internal clocks that synchronize physiological functions on a roughly 24-hour cycle.

circadian rhythm

Disruption or desynchronization of the circadian rhythm has been linked with (4):

obesity, diabetes, depression, & metabolic disorders

Exposure to bright light at night is associated with circadian phase disruption, which in turn can cause negative health effects such as ___ and ___.

breast cancer, metabolic/sleep disorders

All light – not just sunlight – can contribute to ___.

circadian photoentrainment

Since people spend much of their waking day indoors, insufficient illumination or improper lighting design can lead to ___ of the circadian phase.

drifting

Light exposure in the late night/early morning will shift our rhythms ___ (phase ___).

forward, advance

Light exposure in the late afternoon/early night will shift our rhythms ___ (phase ___).

back, delay

Phase advances and delays can impact sleep-wake cycles and ___ circadian rhythms.

desynchronize

Studies prove that light exposure impacts mood and can reduce the symptoms of ___ in individuals.

depression

Exposure to light has been directly linked with health – it can affect how we ___ and ___.

recover, heal

Reduced exposure to daylight is linked to the onset of ___ and the impairment of ___ in individuals.

depression, cognitive function

Lighting conditions in most spaces are designed to meet the visual needs of individuals but don't take into account ___ and ___ health.

circadian, mental

Integrating daylight and artificial light to create lighting strategies focused on human health, along with traditional requirements for visual acuity and comfort, can lead to ___ and ___ environments.

healthier, more productive

This concept aims to provide a lighting environment that reduces circadian phase disruption, improves sleep quality, and positively impacts mood and productivity.

light

This concept promotes physical activity in everyday life through environmental design, policies, and programs to ensure that movement opportunities are integrated into the fabric of our culture, buildings, and communities.

movement

Movement is intricately connected to all aspects of ___.

daily life

Physical activity encompasses a diverse range of activity domains including (4):

occupational, transportation, household, & leisure-time

We know that all ___ matters for health & physical activity can be accumulated through the day in a variety of ways.

movement

It is critical that our buildings, communities, and sociocultural environments consider ___ as a vital part of the human condition and as a key health promotion tool.

movement

___ has been a primary focus in public health for decades.

physical inactivity

Pre-mature mortality and chronic diseases such as (6): …are linked to physical inactivity.

type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression, stroke, dementia, & some forms of cancer

Despite the widely understood benefits of regular physical activity, global estimates from 2016 show that ___ of the adult population are physically inactive.

23

There are evident disparities between developing and developed countries where ___-___% of the population are estimated to be inactive, respectively.

15, 29

Compared to adults, older populations and adolescents exhibit even higher levels of physical inactivity – about ___% and ___% respectively.

53, 80

In 2013, physical inactivity cost health care systems an estimated ___ globally.

$54 billion

In 2013, physical inactivity cost an estimate of nearly ____ in productivity losses.

$14 billion

Global and national social and economic shifts are known to impact ___.

health behavior

Rising urbanization and economic development are associated with ___ physical activity levels.

declining

Sedentary behavior is distinct from physical activity as it is characterized as very low-intensity, low-effort activities, but it is ___.

rising

___ is an example of sedentary behavior.

sitting

In a 2011 study, self-reported time spent sitting ranged from ___ hours per day among adults, globally.

3-9

Sedentary behavior has been linked to poor health outcomes including (4):

obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular risks, & premature mortality

Ergonomists, exercise scientists, urban planners, architects, behavior change experts, workplace wellness champions, epidemiologists, policy experts, grass roots community organizers, and fortune 500 companies’ diverse minds are currently being brought together in a system-thinking approach to combat ___ and sedentary behaviors.

inactivity

This concept aims to promote movement, foster physical activity and active living, and discourage sedentary behavior, by creating and enhancing opportunities through the spaces where we spend our lives.

movement