title: Assessment of indoor environmental quality in existing multi-family buildings in North-East Europe.
abstract: Sixteen existing multi-family buildings (94 apartments) in Finland and 20 (96 apartments) in Lithuania were investigated prior to their renovation in order to develop and test out a common protocol for the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) assessment, and to assess the potential for improving IEQ along with energy efficiency. Baseline data on buildings, as well as data on temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), radon, and microbial content in settled dust were collected from each apartment. In addition, questionnaire data regarding housing quality and health were collected from the occupants. The results indicated that most measured IEQ parameters were within recommended limits. However, different baselines in each country were observed especially for parameters related to thermal conditions and ventilation. Different baselines were also observed for the respondents' satisfaction with their residence and indoor air quality, as well as their behavior related to indoor environment. In this paper, we present some evidence for the potential in improving IEQ along with energy efficiency in the current building stock, followed by discussion of possible IEQ indicators and development of the assessment protocol.
authors: Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: liuliu.du@thl.fi.
authors: Liuliu
authors: L
authors: Du
authors: Department of Environmental Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania.
authors: Tadas
authors: T
authors: Prasauskas
authors: Department of Civil Engineering, Tampere University of Technology, Finland.
authors: Virpi
authors: V
authors: Leivo
authors: Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Mari
authors: M
authors: Turunen
authors: Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Pekkonen
authors: Department of Civil Engineering, Tampere University of Technology, Finland.
authors: Mihkel
authors: M
authors: Kiviste
authors: Department of Civil Engineering, Tampere University of Technology, Finland.
authors: Anu
authors: A
authors: Aaltonen
authors: Department of Environmental Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania.
authors: Dainius
authors: D
authors: Martuzevicius
authors: Department of Health Protection, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Ulla
authors: U
authors: Haverinen-Shaughnessy
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005387:Finland; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000032:analysis; D006798:Housing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D014691:Ventilation / Q000592:standards; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005557:Formaldehyde; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide
keywords: Environmental monitoring; Exposure; IEQ indicators; Questionnaire; Residential buildings