Oral

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ), including air quality (IAQ) is generally not a major focus in the design, construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of homes, especially low income housing. This can result in an unhealthy indoor environment with elevated levels of airborne contaminants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and combustion products, as well as moisture and mold problems, pest infestation, and temperature extremes. In new housing, IAQ problems can result from tight building envelopes which reduce the passive infiltration of outside air in the absence of mechanical ventilation, with the simultaneous off gassing of VOCs from new building materials and furnishings. IEQ in new housing can be improved through green building designs which incorporate low emission materials, adequate ventilation and moisture control, and the use of integrated pest management (IPM). IEQ in existing housing can be improved through the use of green rehab strategies that incorporate increased energy efficiency, improved ventilation, and the use of IPM. In this session, researchers will present: findings on the relationship between IAQ and ventilation characteristics in a sample of new homes; results from a study of environmental and health benefits from low income apartments renovated using green methods; the findings of research on the use of IPM in government assisted multifamily housing, and the assessment of high performance, low income homes, built using features expected to improve IEQ.

Session Objectives: 1) Identify cost effective measures to improve indoor environmental quality in affordable housing. 2) Describe evidence for the effectiveness of integrated pest management in low income housing. 3) Discuss potential health benefits of housing constructed using green construction protocols. 4) Articulate the need for improved ventialtion in new, energy efficient housing.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)