Abstract
The external environment directly influences human health. However, what happens inside? This work deals with the effect that the interior thermal variables have on the propagation of respiratory diseases and focused on the relation of the temperature and relative humidity inside social housing in the 1040 parishes of Ecuador and the transmission of influenza. On the one hand, historical weather-related variables were used to simulate and estimate the interior conditions, and thresholds on temperature and humidity were determined. On the other hand, the health-related variable was determined by analyzing the statistics corresponding to the influenza and viral pneumonia in 2009 since that year was critical for these diseases; the data were divided by month for each parish. Finally, the correlation of these variables determines the relative importance of the interior conditions on the respiratory health of its inhabitants. The preliminary results indicate that the places with the lowest temperatures and relative humidity could favor the virus transmission. Also, the analysis indicated that respiratory diseases increase in August and October. In this way, it is clear that social housing projects in Ecuador require a study which guarantees not only energy efficiency and sustainability related issues but also the well-being of their inhabitants.
Highlights
Latin America faced sanitation and hygiene problems during the colonial period since Europeans imported those problems with them. To exert all their power, the settlers replaced the way of life, food, hygiene practices, and culture of natives by their own customs, which not necessarily were the best for the new world since the environmental conditions are different between America and Europe
It will allow to identify habitability parameters that must be articulated with energy efficiency standards, constructive characteristics, and other factors which affect the interior conditions of inhabited spaces
Temperatures were assumed between 5°C and 20°C and relative humidity of 20%, 35%, 50%, 65%, and 80% [46]. ese parameters were applied to a digital model of social housing defined by Ministerio de Desarollo Urbano y Vivienda (Miduvi) (Ministry of Urban Development and Housing) in Ecuador. is typical house is unique for all Ecuadorians, and no adaptation to specific regions has been considered for economical reasons. e behavior of indoor conditions of temperature and relative humidity was simulated in DesignBuilder software. is social house model has been established for the whole country including urban and rural zones, using the same architectural design, dimensions, and materials
Summary
Received 2 April 2019; Revised 20 July 2019; Accepted 20 September 2019; Published 23 November 2019. Is work deals with the effect that the interior thermal variables have on the propagation of respiratory diseases and focused on the relation of the temperature and relative humidity inside social housing in the 1040 parishes of Ecuador and the transmission of influenza. Historical weather-related variables were used to simulate and estimate the interior conditions, and thresholds on temperature and humidity were determined. The correlation of these variables determines the relative importance of the interior conditions on the respiratory health of its inhabitants. The analysis indicated that respiratory diseases increase in August and October In this way, it is clear that social housing projects in Ecuador require a study which guarantees energy efficiency and sustainability related issues and the well-being of their inhabitants
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