Characterization of indoor air quality and resident health in an Arizona senior housing apartment building

Abstract

A survey of key indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters and resident health was carried out in 72 apartments within a single low-income senior housing building in Phoenix, Arizona. Air sampling was carried out simultaneously with a questionnaire on personal habits and general health of residents. Mean PM₁₀ concentrations are 66±16, 58±13, and 24±3 μg/m³ and mean PM_2.5 concentrations are 62±16, 53±13, and 20±2 μg/m³ for the living room, kitchen, and outdoor balcony, respectively. Median PM₁₀ concentrations are 17, 18 and 17 μg/m³ and median PM_2.5 concentrations are 13, 14, and 13 μg/m³, respectively. The initial results indicate that increased indoor particle concentrations coincide with residents who report smoking cigarettes. Indoor formaldehyde concentrations revealed median levels of 36.9, 38.8, and 4.3 ppb in the living room, kitchen, and balcony, respectively. Results show that 36% of living room samples and 44% of kitchen samples exceeded the Health Canada REL for chronic exposure to formaldehyde (40 ppb). Associations between occupants’ behavior, self-reported health conditions, and IAQ are evaluated.

Implications:

This study provides a characterization of indoor air quality (IAQ) of subsidized apartments for seniors in Phoenix, Arizona. It is important for policy makers to understand the environments in which low-income seniors live, as they are vulnerable to the health impacts from poor IAQ. Formaldehyde concentrations were found to exceed the Health Canada 8-hr reference exposure level (REL) for up to 44% of indoor samples. Particulate matter exposure was governed by resident behavior (i.e., smoking). Associations between occupants’ behavior, IAQ, and self-reported health conditions are evaluated. This work can provide a foundation for subsequent remediation of IAQ conditions.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sarah E. Frey

Sarah E. Frey is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.

Hugo Destaillats

Hugo Destaillats is a staff scientist at the Environmental Energy Technologies Division and Deputy Leader of the Indoor Environment Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, CA.

Sebastian Cohn

Sebastian Cohn is a researcher in the Indoor Environment Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, CA.

Sherry Ahrentzen

Sherry Ahrentzen is a professor in the M.E. Rinker, Sr., School of Building Construction at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL.

Matthew P. Fraser

Matthew P. Fraser is a professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment as well as the Executive Director of the Quantum Energy and Sustainable Solar Technologies (QESST) Engineering Research Center at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ.