Field Study of Air Exchange Rates in Northern Highlands of Peru

Abstract

Indoor air quality is a growing area of public health concern worldwide, particularly in less developed countries. Although one of the key factors that can affect indoor exposure levels is the air exchange rate (AER), few AER measurements are available for the range of housing types and conditions found in most developing countries. The current paper provides a review of the sparse literature on reported AERs in developing countries, and presents the results of a field study in which AERs were measured under varying conditions in two rural village homes in the Northern Highlands of Peru. AER measurements were collected using a well established and rigorous tracer gas technique. Measured AERs based on 19 tests of discrete interior spaces in the two exemplar homes typically ranged from 2 to 20 h−1 when all windows and doors were closed or with 1 to 2 apertures, but values as low as 0.5 to 1 h−1 were measured in tightly constructed spaces. Although limited in size and scope, our test results illustrate how AERs can vary between disconnected spaces within a home or among different housing units in the same general region, depending on the building construction and degree of ventilation. Our findings are generally consistent with reported AER values in other developing countries, but provide important region-specific data and represent the only known AER values for rural village homes in Peru. These data can be used to support broader efforts aimed at assessing and reducing air pollution exposures and risks worldwide.