Ventilation, indoor air quality, and health in homes undergoing weatherization

Abstract

Ventilation standards, health, and indoor air quality have not been adequately examined for residential weatherization. This randomized trial showed how ASHRAE 62-1989 (n=39 houses) and ASHRAE 62.2-2010 (n=42 houses) influenced ventilation rates, moisture balance, indoor air quality, and self-reported physical and mental health outcomes. Average total airflow was nearly twice as high for ASHRAE 62.2-2010 (79 vs. 39 cfm). Volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde and carbon dioxide were all significantly reduced for the newer standard and first-floor radon was marginally lower, but for the older standard, only formaldehyde significantly decreased. Humidity in the ASHRAE 62.2-2010 group was only about half that of the ASHRAE 62-1989 group using the moisture balance metric. Radon was higher in the basement but lower on the first floor for ASHRAE 62.2-2010. Children in each group had fewer headaches, eczema, and skin allergies after weatherization and adults had improvements in psychological distress. Indoor air quality and health improve when weatherization is accompanied by an ASHRAE residential ventilation standard, and the 2010 ASHRAE standard has greater improvements in certain outcomes compared to the 1989 standard. Weatherization, home repair, and energy conservation projects should use the newer ASHRAE standard to improve indoor air quality and health.

Investigation of A Potted Plant (Hedera helix) with Photo-Regulation to Remove Volatile Formaldehyde for Improving Indoor Air Quality

“…People usually notice uncomfortable symptoms or illness after working for several hours, and feel better after leaving the building for some days. The amount of time they spend in the building is associated with the health effects (Francisco et al, 2017). However, specific pathogens or causes cannot be identified in most cases.…”

“…Ventilation is an effective way of ameliorating air quality that works by diluting the concentrations of indoor pollutants, but it increases energy use because the utilization of indoor air handling systems must increase (Ciuzas et al, 2016;Francisco et al, 2017). Besides, using effective means to reduce indoor air pollution and improve air quality are important issues for building occupants and users in nonventilated places, like hospitals and laboratories (Brown et al, 2015;Lucas et al, 2016;Verriele et al, 2016;Bradman et al, 2017).…”

How home ventilation rates affect health: A literature review

“…The health outcomes of most studies were asthma or allergy related or other respiratory health outcomes, primarily self‐reported as opposed to objectively‐measured or doctor‐diagnosed, outcomes. Three studies included respiratory infection outcomes and six studies had skin symptom outcomes . Several studies included objectively‐measured health outcomes, for example, measures of lung function, exhaled nitric oxide, or bronchial hyperresponsiveness.…”

Different types of housing and respiratory health outcomes

“…As the presence of the specialized maintenance services, it is presumed that these homes were less likely to be exposed to severe indoor pollutants. Second, multifamily apartment buildings generally have mechanical ventilation to maintain adequate fresh air supply, but single family homes typically rely on passive air infiltration for air exchange, and mobile homes have a much lower air exchange rate and thus less fresh air supply (Francisco et al, 2017). The differences in ventilation condition and fresh air supply may play a role in the associations between different types of housing and respiratory conditions (Jacobs et al, 2010, Sundell et al, 2011, WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, 2005).…”