Richard Bruns

Richard Bruns, Senior Scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and former Senior Economist at the US FDA, discusses the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) and interventions to improve it such as air filtration and germicidal UV light. They also explore the impact of particulate matter on human health, the value of statistical life, national policy changes needed for widespread adoption of IAQ interventions, and the role of FDA regulation. Additionally, they touch on rethinking cost-benefit analysis, complex systems, and cultural socialization.

Richard Bruns, an economist and Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, dives into the crucial impacts of air quality on health. He explores the ominous effects of PM2.5 particles, revealing how they can permeate our bodies and lead to significant health risks. The conversation also touches on how air quality differs across environments and directly affects cognitive performance. Bruns emphasizes practical steps to improve indoor air quality and critiques existing health regulations, offering a fresh perspective on public health policy.