Associations between ventilation, indoor air quality, and health in residential buildings

Abstract

Background: While there is an increasing interest in zero-energy buildings, limited evidence is available on how building characteristics affect the level of indoor air quality and occupants’ health status. This study aimed to compare the indoor air quality between the zero-energy building and general apartment in Nowon-gu, Seoul, South Korea and to investigate the relationship between occupants’ behavior, indoor air quality, and level of symptoms.Methods: We recruited twenty-five households for case (zero-energy house) and control group (general apartment) respectively. Self-reported questionnaires were conducted on demographic profiles, general housing conditions, occupants’ behaviors and disease history at the baseline. The severity of symptoms including headache, cough, and allergic symptoms, and subjective stress level were asked using a Likert scale on a weekly basis through a web survey tool. Exposure variables including particulate matter (PM), Carbon dioxide (CO2), and Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured using a real-time monitor (Airguard K) on every minute. Regression analysis and a generalized additive model (GAM) will be used to estimate the relative risk for each subgroup.Results: Case and control group showed difference in building age, residence period (23.2 vs. 48.3 months, p < 0.001) and the housing size (55.0 vs. 81.8m2, p < 0.001). Nearly half (48% vs. 40%) of occupants responded they ventilate the house every day. A majority of occupants (64%) used kitchen ventilator while cooking. Hourly mean levels of PM10, PM2.5, CO2 and VOCs between November to February were significantly low in zero-energy building (p <0.001). Frequency of self-reported symptoms were not significantly different between two groups.Conclusions: The results of this study would contribute to finding physical housing conditions and occupants’ behaviors that are associated with occupants’ health and quality of life. It will also provide guidelines for the management of indoor air quality at home.