Concentrations and determinants of NO2 in homes of Ashford, UK and Barcelona and Menorca, Spain

Abstract

This study examined indoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in Ashford, Kent (UK), Menorca Island and Barcelona city (Spain) and the contribution of their most important indoor determinants (e.g. gas combustion appliances and cigarette smoking). The homes examined (n = 1421) were those from infants recruited for the Asthma Multicentre Infants Cohort Study, which aimed to assess, using a standard protocol, the effects of pre- and post-natal environmental exposures in the inception of atopy and asthma. Indoor NO2 was measured using passive filter badges placed on a living room wall of the homes for between 7 and 15 days. Homes in the three centers had significantly different concentrations of indoor NO2, with those in Barcelona showing the highest levels (median NO2 levels: 5.79, 6.06 and 23.87 p.p.b. in Ashford, Menorca and Barcelona, respectively). Multiple regression analysis showed that the principal indoor determinants of NO2 concentrations in the three cohorts were the heating/cooking fuel used in the house (gas fire increased average NO2 concentrations by 1.27-fold and gas cooker by 2.13 times), parental cigarette smoking and season of measurement. Those variables significantly related to indoor NO(2) accounted for 23, 14 and 39% of the variation in indoor NO2 concentration in Ashford, Barcelona and Menorca, respectively. In all the cohorts combined, 52% of the variation could be explained in this way. Although outdoor NO2 was not measured concurrently, its additional contribution was estimated. In conclusion, despite differences in indoor NO2 mean concentrations probably reflecting different outdoor NO2 level, home factors affecting indoor NO2 values and their specific contributions were constant across the three cohorts. This study found that principal determinants associated to indoor NO2 in three different sites of Europe: Ashford (UK), Barcelona and Menorca (Spain) were the energy source present in the home and cigarette smoking, despite these areas presented different climates, levels of outdoor contamination, housing characteristics and ventilation behavior. It is suggested that interventions in homes of these three centers will need to address principally cigarette smoking and gas combustion appliances. These latter factors require institutional intervention, while cigarette smoking mainly require personal changes.