To Prevent Next Pandemic, Scientists Say We Must Regulate Air Like Food and Water Details 14 May 2021 Share This Humans in the 21st century spend most of their time indoors, but the air we breathe inside buildings is not regulated to the same degree as the food we eat and the water we drink. Humans in the 21st century spend most of their time indoors, but the air we breathe inside buildings is not regulated to the same degree as the food we eat and the water we drink. A group of 39 researchers from 14 countries, including two from CU Boulder, say that needs to change to reduce disease transmission and prevent the next pandemic.