REAL ESTATE
Buildings That Promote
Human Health And
Eliminate Pathogens
By Prof. Alfred Omenya
Introduction
There is a link between architecture and
health. Poorly designed buildings can
either cause direct new health problems
or exacerbate existing health conditions.
Buildings have caused death in the past,
not just through accidents but also through
such subtle issues as carbon monoxide
poisoning due to lack of adequate natural
ventilation.
Despite the seriousness of this matter -
it is a matter of life and death, the issue
of healthy buildings is neither given the
proper consideration by professionals nor
their clients. This brief write up highlights
some of the issues to consider in making
buildings healthier.
Healthy Buildings
Healthy buildings are buildings that have
been designed on one hand to create
unsuitable conditions for pathogens
to thrive and on the other hand to
create living conditions that promote
human health. Humans need dwelling
environments that promote their health.
These environments should have at least
the key attributes highlighted below.
Environments with adequate natural
lighting does not only provide some
Vitamin D but is also associated with
reduced stress, a feeling of well being and
reduction of migraines that come from
artificial florescent lighting (which is also
associated with mercury poisoning in case
of breakages of the fluorescent lamps).
Natural ventilation is critical given the
need for the brain to get adequate oxygen
supply. There is also the need to eliminate
excess carbon dioxide (CO2) that builds
up in occupied interior spaces, mainly
through breathing. Natural ventilation
would also remove excess gases such as
carbon monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Dioxide
(NO2) and even phosphorus gases (eg
P2O3, P2O5, etc.).
Design for natural ventilation should
also take into account the air quality in
the external environment, which can also
be a source of noxious gases, if waste
management is not properly done.
Particulate matter in the air is a major
problem for the health of lungs, and is
associated with asthma. Methane from
organic decomposition is also bad for
human health, in addition to its much
highlighted impacts on global warming.
Thermal comfort is key to human health.
Lower temperatures indoors compromise
human health and is associated with such
diseases like pneumonia. While higher
temperatures may result in mild health
conditions such as migraines or more
serious conditions such as hyperthermia.
Despite humans adapting to high
temperature range, studies have shown
that productivity of work and learning
diminishes once temperatures surpass a
particular threshold.
Good Environment for
Pathogens
Healthy buildings are buildings that
have been designed on one hand to create
unsuitable conditions for pathogens
to thrive and on the other hand to create
living conditions that promote human
health. Humans need dwelling environments
that promote their healt
Absence of the factors highlighted above
lead to higher likelihood of compromise of
human health and creation of conditions
for pathogens including viruses to thrive.
For example, a building that is dump, with
poor lighting, poor natural ventilation,
high variable diurnal range of temperature
and materials that trap aerosols, like
carpets or materials that generate poisons
like lead, is a guaranteed human health
disaster and an excellent home for
pathogens.
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