Abstract Numerous synthetic materials are widely used in indoor environments. Some of these materials emit hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde and benzene, which are recognized carcinogens. Moreover, outdoor air pollutants like PM 2.5 infiltrate indoor spaces. Both indoor emission sources and outdoor infiltration significantly degrade indoor air quality (IAQ), contributing to public health concerns in China over recent decades. Quantitative pre-control of IAQ through appropriate engineering interventions during the design phase represents the most cost-effective strategy to ensure occupants breathe healthy air indoors. This paper presents a systematic summary of our research conducted over the past two decades on the quantitative pre-control of IAQ using engineering-based methods during the building and indoor environment design phase. Our findings primarily address the following key aspects of quantitative pre-control of IAQ: 1) developing a framework for the quantitative pre-control of IAQ; 2) implementing quantitative pre-control strategies for indoor-generated indoor air pollutants (IAPs); 3) applying energy- and cost-effective approaches to IAQ pre-control; 4) identifying target indoor-origin indoor air pollutants (IAPs) based on their individual disease burdens; and 5) establishing IAP concentration thresholds according to quantitative assessments of net economic benefit (NEB). Quantitative pre-control of IAQ requires not only interdisciplinary collaboration to elucidate mechanisms across the full pathway—from pollution sources to human exposure—but also multi-industry coordination to ensure consistency in engineering control techniques and standards throughout the IAQ management chain. Our findings establish the essential scientific and technical foundation for such quantitative pre-control through these integrated collaborations.
Wang et al. (2026) studied this question.