Grantee Research Project Results

2018 Progress Report: Indoor Exposure to Pollutants Associated with Oxidative Chemistry: Field Studies and Window-Opening Behavior

EPA Grant Number: R835751
Title: Indoor Exposure to Pollutants Associated with Oxidative Chemistry: Field Studies and Window-Opening Behavior
Investigators: Morrison, Glenn C , Williams, Brent , Ercal, Nuran , Lobo, Prem
Current Investigators: Morrison, Glenn C , Williams, Brent , Ercal, Nuran
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Missouri University of Science and Technology , Washington University
Current Institution: Missouri University of Science and Technology , Washington University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: November 1, 2014 through October 31, 2017 (Extended to October 31, 2019)
Project Period Covered by this Report: November 1, 2017 through October 31,2018
Project Amount: $999,999
RFA: Indoor Air and Climate Change (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Climate Change , Air

Objective:

Specific objectives are to 1) quantify chemical precursors and chemical products associated with infiltration of photochemical oxidants from ambient air in residential settings, 2) evaluate the influence of natural ventilation on indoor chemistry, and 3) quantify current residential natural ventilation behavior and its relationship to region, local climate, construction type and other site-specific phenomena. The objectives have not changed from the original proposal.

Progress Summary:

During the fourth year, a second field study took place in St. Louis. This study was similar to the 2016 study, but with additional measurements (e.g. aerosol mass spectrometer, reactive oxygen species, enhanced sorption tube analysis). We observed greater surface oxidation taking place with windows open, but aerosol-bound reactive oxygen species were not significantly influenced by window open/closed status. The nation-wide window-opening survey was completed with a total of 3881 responses.

Further surveys took place during year 3 totaling 2242 individual responses. For the whole US about 60% of respondents open a window at least once a day at minimum daily temperatures between 15 and 20 C. Above or below this value, window opening drops significantly. During the temperate time of year, respondents in the southwest (SW) are about twice as likely to open windows as those in the southeast (SE). Unlike with earlier, smaller data sets, we can now discern that there are demographic differences. For example, lower income apartment dwellers open their windows much more than higher income detached house dwellers.

Future Activities:

During year 5, data collected from field campaigns and surveys will continue to be analyzed, reported on at conferences and journal articles are in preparation.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 15 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

exposure, aerosol, ozone, house, ventilation

Relevant Websites:

None

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.