An interview with Dr. Eva King

Our homes are indoor environments of our own making. These environments exist to make our lives better but often unintentionally expose us to contaminants—chemical and microbial—that harm our health and wellbeing. For genetically susceptible individuals, these routine exposures can trigger a breakdown in the body's natural tolerance, leading to chronic inflammatory and neurological symptoms such as CIRS, TILT, and PANS/PANDAS. In a sadly apt metaphor, we are the canaries and our home is the coal mine.

Today, we are joined by a frontline expert in this field, Dr. Eva King. Eva holds a Masters in Biochemistry and a Doctorate in Immunology/Epidemiology from the University of Oxford. She has dedicated more than two decades investigating the intersection of indoor environments and human health. Her focus is helping clients with underlying medical conditions identify and address building-related issues that contribute to their health problems. This interview is fuel for the journey to flip our indoor environments from being a major contributor to chronic disease to becoming a primary solution. This is a central and sobering topic for all of us with agency in the AEC. Please listen and share.

Eva King

Dr. Eva King, principal and founder of AURA EnviroScience, has been involved in investigations and research into indoor environments and health, allergens, asthma and immunology for about 20 years. Her work has been published in many peer-reviewed scientific publications, and she regularly presents at conferences and workshops.

Her focus is helping clients with underlying medical conditions identify building-related problems that contribute to their health issues, often by direct physician referral.

Dr. King received her Master in Biochemistry in her native Germany, and her Doctorate in Immunology/Epidemiology from the University of Oxford, UK, and is a Council-certified Indoor Environmental Consultant (CIEC, ACAC #180311).

She is a member of ASHRAE, the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ), and previously served on the Board of Directors and as Technical Conference Chair of the Indoor Air Quality Association.

Team

Hosted by Kristof Irwin

Edited by Nico Mignardi

Produced by M. Walker

The Humid Climate Conference (HCC) is officially back in Austin this May 4th & 5th, and we have a fantastic line up of speakers and topics for our 10th anniversary. It’s time to step away from the Zoom screen and have some live 3D human interaction!

Today’s episode is a public service announcement to join us in Austin to recharge our collective motivation and determination. We often talk about the system lens of building science, but we tend to forget that we ourselves are part of a larger system. This conference is an energy boost that charges us up with understanding, perspective and enthusiasm that only get generated when we’re in the same room.

This year, The Humid Climate Conferences dives into the intersection of Risks, Realities, and Rewards and how they guide and motivate appropriate design and construction in humid climates.

Whether you're here for the Phius passive house technical deep dives, to reconnect with friends and colleagues at the famous after party happy hours, or just to soak up some Austin energy, this is one event you simply cannot miss. Check the link in the show notes to learn more and secure your spot.

Team

Hosted by Kristof Irwin

Edited by Nico Mignardi

Produced by M. Walker

An interview with Dr. Sarah Haines

The Indoor Microbiome is the complex, invisible world of microorganisms living within our daily surroundings, serving as the primary ecological interface through which buildings influence human biology. In this light, we are beginning to view indoor environments not merely as passive shelters, but as powerful positive health interventions that can actively shape our immune development and long-term wellbeing.

Today, we are joined by Dr. Sarah Haines, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and Principal Investigator of the IMEE Lab, to explore the foundational framework behind this shift. We will discuss the emerging perspective of "biologically informed architectural design" and the fact that architects and interior designers don’t just curate materials, they curate our basic microbial exposures and therefore our health and wellbeing.

Sarah Haines

Dr. Sarah R. Haines is an interdisciplinary researcher and educator working at the intersection of building science, environmental engineering, and microbiology to investigate how indoor environments shape human health. Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering at the University of Toronto, the Principal Investigator of the Indoor Microbiology and Environmental Exposures (IMEE) Lab and member of the Hub for Advancing Buildings. She holds a BS in Environmental Engineering and an MS and PhD in Environmental Science from The Ohio State University. Her research focuses on maintaining healthy and sustainable indoor environments through detection and characterization of abiotic and biotic indoor exposures using a variety of techniques​. She integrates community-based participatory research, advanced molecular techniques (e.g., high-throughput sequencing, digital PCR, metatranscriptomics) and filter forensics to examine microbial dynamics and contaminant exposures indoors.

Her work includes studies of moisture-driven mold growth in building materials, microbial volatile organic compound emissions, and the use of filter dust to estimate airborne concentrations of contaminants and pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. Through this research, she develops practical, evidence-based strategies to reduce harmful indoor exposures, particularly in the context of climate change and housing inequities.

Prof. Haines is a member of the American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) and the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ), as well as the Institute of Health Emergencies and Pandemics (IHEP) contributing to interdisciplinary efforts that connect indoor air quality, building performance and health. She was the 2024 recipient of the University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering Early Career Teaching Award, recognized for excellence in teaching and mentorship.

Team

Hosted by Kristof Irwin

Edited by Nico Mignardi

Produced by M. Walker