title: Indoor air quality in green-renovated vs. non-green low-income homes of children living in a temperate region of US (Ohio).
abstract: Green eco-friendly housing includes approaches to reduce indoor air pollutant sources and to increase energy efficiency. Although sealing/tightening buildings can save energy and reduce the penetration of outdoor pollutants, an adverse outcome can be increased buildup of pollutants with indoor sources. The objective of this study was to determine the differences in the indoor air quality (IAQ) between green and non-green homes in low-income housing complexes. In one housing complex, apartments were renovated using green principles (n=28). Home visits were conducted immediately after the renovation, and subsequently at 6 months and at 12 months following the renovation. Of these homes, eight homes had pre-renovation home visits; this allowed pre- and post-renovation comparisons within the same homes. Parallel visits were conducted in non-green (control) apartments (n=14) in a nearby low-income housing complex. The IAQ assessments included PM2.5, black carbon, ultrafine particles, sulfur, total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, and air exchange rate. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. None of the indoor pollutant concentrations were significantly different between green and non-green homes. However, we found differences when comparing the concentrations before and after renovation. Measured immediately after renovation, indoor black carbon concentrations were significantly lower averaging 682 ng/m(3) in post-renovation vs. 2364 ng/m(3) in pre-renovation home visits (p=0.01). In contrast, formaldehyde concentrations were significantly higher in post-renovated (0.03 ppm) than in pre-renovated homes (0.01 ppm) (p=0.004). Questionnaire data showed that opening of windows occurred less frequently in homes immediately post-renovation compared to pre-renovation; this factor likely affected the levels of indoor black carbon (from outdoor sources) and formaldehyde (from indoor sources) more than the renovation status itself. To reduce IAQ problems and potentially improve health, careful selection of indoor building materials and ensuring sufficient ventilation are important for green building designs.
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Kanistha C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Coombs
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Environmental Health, Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, 4770 Buford Hwy., N.E., MS-F60, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Ginger L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Cole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brokamp
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Sergey A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Grinshpun
authors.affiliation: Harvard University, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adamkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Geochemistry Division, P.O. Box 8000, Palisades, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chillrud
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, 465 Henry Mall, Madison, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hedman
authors.affiliation: Harvard University, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Meryl
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colton
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Geochemistry Division, P.O. Box 8000, Palisades, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reponen
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003252:Construction Materials; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009820:Ohio; D011203:Poverty; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D005557:Formaldehyde
keywords: Black carbon; Formaldehyde; Green renovation; PM(2.5); VOC