title: Indoor air quality in green vs conventional multifamily low-income housing.
abstract: Indoor air quality is an important predictor of health, especially in low-income populations. It is unclear how recent trends in "green" building affect the indoor exposure profile. In two successive years, we conducted environmental sampling, home inspections, and health questionnaires with families in green and conventional (control) apartments in two public housing developments. A subset of participants was followed as they moved from conventional to green or conventional to conventional housing. We measured particulate matter less than 2.5 μm aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5), formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nicotine, carbon dioxide (CO2), and air exchange rate (AER) over a seven-day sampling period coincident with survey administration. In multivariate models, we observed 57%, 65%, and 93% lower concentrations of PM2.5, NO2, and nicotine (respectively) in green vs control homes (p=0.032, p<0.001, p=0.003, respectively), as well as fewer reports of mold, pests, inadequate ventilation, and stuffiness. Differences in formaldehyde and CO2 were not statistically significant. AER was marginally lower in green buildings (p=0.109). Participants in green homes experienced 47% fewer sick building syndrome symptoms (p<0.010). We observed significant decreases in multiple indoor exposures and improved health outcomes among participants who moved into green housing, suggesting multilevel housing interventions have the potential to improve long-term resident health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health , Boston 02215, Massachusetts, United States.
authors.forename: Meryl D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Colton
authors.forename: Piers
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: MacNaughton
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vallarino
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Mae
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bennett-Fripp
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Spengler
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adamkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D003710:Demography; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000032:analysis; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D011638:Public Housing; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D005557:Formaldehyde; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide