Ongoing Projects

Dr. Darrah Sleeth, Zach Palmer (student)

Industrial Hygiene

Although individuals spend up to 90% of their time indoors, indoor air quality (IAQ) has been less frequently studied than outdoor air quality. One key component of IAQ is particle pollution, particularly particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, PM2.5. High concentrations of these particles are linked to lung cancer, pulmonary disease, asthma, premature death, and other adverse health effects. Little information exists about indoor air on the University of Utah campus. IAQ is critical for developing operating protocols that will maximize indoor air quality, protect the health and well-being of students and staff. Our project aims to continuously measure IAQ (PM2.5, CO2, temperature, and relative humidity) in 20 indoor and two outdoor locations on the U of U campus with the goal of using the information to optimize energy efficiency and improve IAQ. These measurements will be available wirelessly to U of U facilities and researchers through a web-based dashboard and API. We anticipate collecting measurements continuously from November 2022 through June 2023. This project is a collaboration with Dr. Kerry Kelly, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering.