Addressing the quest for clean indoor air

The quest for clean air dates back to Hippocrates (c. 460 — 377 BC), often considered the 'Father of Medicine'. He emphasised the effects of environmental factors, including air quality, on human health. He linked the characteristics of the air in a region to the prevalence of certain diseases. He believed that understanding the winds, seasons, and the quality of air and water was crucial for a physician to understand the health of a community. Throughout history, philosophers were influenced by the Miasma Theory, which posited that diseases were caused by 'miasma' — bad air from decaying organic matter. While there is no demand for 'clean' air in the modern sense, it highlights the perceived danger of 'foul' air, and implicitly suggests the need to avoid such conditions to prevent illness.

Later thinkers, such as the jurist, Sir Edward Coke, in the early 1500s, argued that 'lights and sweet air were as necessary as pure and wholesome water'. In his letter to King Charles II in 1661, John Evelyn expressed grave concerns about the poor air quality in London, attributing it to the burning of coal, and highlighting its detrimental effects on public health — including coughs, low birth rates, and high mortality. Later, in the 19th century, public health reformers like John H. Griscom in New York actively campaigned for improved living conditions, including better ventilation and cleaner environments, to improve public health. While not strictly philosophers in the traditional sense, their work was driven by a philosophical concern for the well-being of the population.

Most hospitals' early purpose was to house — not cure — the sick, in tightly packed rows of beds in dark open wards. Florence Nightingale, known as the 'Lady with the Lamp', decided to fundamentally change healthcare forever with her insights into patient recovery and environmental factors like air quality and ventilation. During the Crimean War, she observed the dire sanitary conditions in military hospitals, and identified the link between the environment and patient mortality. Her detailed data collection revealed that preventable diseases were the primary killers, prompting her to implement vital reforms in hospital management.