Material selection is a core service provided by architects, but that process is far from simple. The AIA Materials Certificate Program untangles the complexities of that process in five essential courses. The key? Materials transparency. When you know everything you can about the materials you use, you're able to make the best product decisions for projects, people, and the environment. The courses cover different types of impacts, and best practices for reducing these impacts, from industry-best instructors. Take all five courses and earn a certificate.

COURSE 3—Health Impacts: Connecting Building Materials, Human Health, and the Environment

Dive deeper into the relationship between building materials and human health in this eye-opening course. You’ll discover the three ways substances move from the environment into our bodies. You’ll also learn about health risks—what makes certain populations more vulnerable and why health impacts can vary from person to person. Embracing the precautionary principle is one of several actions explored in this course to help you better consider human health risks when selecting materials.

Learning objectives

Describe the “precautionary principle” and why it matters in design.
Define three ways substances move from the environment to people.
Identify five vulnerable populations and discuss how they are affected differently.
Identify tools that can help you consider human health risks and hazards when selecting materials.

Topic

Climate