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Sci Total Environ

Title:		Indoor air quality in green-renovated vs. non-green low-income homes of children living in a temperate region of US (Ohio)
Author(s):		Coombs KC; Chew GL; Schaffer C; Ryan PH; Brokamp C; Grinshpun SA; Adamkiewicz G; Chillrud S; Hedman C; Colton M; Ross J; Reponen T;
Address:		"University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 670056, Cincinnati, OH, USA. 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. 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. Harvard University, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, USA. Columbia University, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Geochemistry Division, P.O. Box 8000, Palisades, New York, USA. University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, 465 Henry Mall, Madison, WI, USA"
Journal Title:		Sci Total Environ
Year:		2016
Volume:		20160305
Issue:
Page Number:		178 - 185
DOI:		10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.136
ISSN/ISBN:		1879-1026 (Electronic) 0048-9697 (Print) 0048-9697 (Linking)
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"
Keywords:		"Air Pollutants/analysis Air Pollution, Indoor/*analysis/statistics & numerical data Child Conservation of Natural Resources Construction Materials Environmental Exposure/*statistics & numerical data Environmental Monitoring Formaldehyde/analysis Humans Oh;"
Notes:		"MedlineCoombs, Kanistha C Chew, Ginger L Schaffer, Christopher Ryan, Patrick H Brokamp, Cole Grinshpun, Sergey A Adamkiewicz, Gary Chillrud, Steve Hedman, Curtis Colton, Meryl Ross, Jamie Reponen, Tiina eng P30 ES009089/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/ U01 EH000990/EH/NCEH CDC HHS/ 5UO1EH000990/EH/NCEH CDC HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Netherlands 2016/03/08 Sci Total Environ. 2016 Jun 1; 554-555:178-85. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.136. Epub 2016 Mar 5"