Relationships between socioeconomic and lifestyle factors and indoor air quality in French dwellings

Abstract

Background: To date, few studies have analyzed the relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and indoor air quality (IAQ).

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between socioeconomic and other factors and indoor air pollutant levels in French homes.

Methods: The indoor air concentrations of thirty chemical, biological and physical parameters were measured over one week in a sample of 567 dwellings representative of the French housing stock between September 2003 and December 2005. Information on SES (household structure, educational attainment, income, and occupation), building characteristics, and occupants' habits and activities (smoking, cooking, cleaning, etc.) were collected through administered questionnaires. Separate stepwise linear regression models were fitted to log-transformed concentrations on SES and other factors. Logistic regression was performed on fungal contamination data.

Results: Households with lower income were more likely to have higher indoor concentrations of formaldehyde, but lower perchloroethylene indoor concentrations. Formaldehyde indoor concentrations were also associated with newly built buildings. Smoking was associated with increasing acetaldehyde and PM2.5 levels and the risk of a positive fungal contamination index. BTEX levels were also associated with occupant density and having an attached garage. The major predictors for fungal contamination were dampness and absolute humidity.

Conclusion: These results, obtained from a large sample of dwellings, show for the first time in France the relationships between SES factors and indoor air pollutants, and believe they should be considered alongside occupant activities and building characteristics when study IAQ in homes.

Keywords: Housing; Indoor Air; Particulate matter; Socioeconomic status; Volatile organic compounds.