March “news”
For March, I have three studies that I felt were particularly interesting. There is also one of my pieces in the Conversation. The recording of the webinar I organized, with Engineers Ireland, during February, entitled “Breathing better, learning better: Understanding and improving classroom indoor climate” is available on YouTube now.
Jumping on beds and bedroom air pollution!
If you have kids at home or if you were ever a kid, you know that kids love to jump on beds. But, children jumping on the bed or even making the bed can affect the air quality in your bedroom. These actions can stir up dust and other particles, increasing the levels of tiny pollutants like particulate matter — PM10, and PM2.5 — as well as airborne bacteria and fungi.
Jumping on the bed can significantly raise these levels. Making the bed can cause a smaller but still noticeable increase. Homes with furry pets may have higher concentrations of particulate matter. Also, larger particles tend to get stirred up more easily than smaller ones, meaning, they will get resuspended into air, from the bed, more easily.
Keeping your home clean and well-ventilated can help reduce these effects and improve indoor air quality for you and your family!
Home remediation and household education on indoor air quality
In rural southwest Alaska children face high rates of hospitalizations due to lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). A study explored how improving indoor air quality (IAQ) can benefit health. Researchers worked with 63 households with children aged 1–12 who had lung conditions. They made home improvements like installing better ventilation (e.g., vents, range hoods, bathroom fans), replacing old woodstoves with cleaner, EPA-certified models, and fixing moisture issues. Families also received information on IAQ, respiratory triggers, and behaviours that can adversely affect air quality.
Factors linked to poor IAQ included smoking indoors, woodstove use, overcrowding, and lack of piped water. Education focused on burning dry wood, proper ventilation, safe cleaning practices, and smoking outside. Follow-up visits reinforced these practices and provided guidance on managing asthma and medication use.
After these changes, parents reported fewer symptoms in their children, such as runny noses, coughing, wheezing, and school absences. Hospital visits for LRTIs also decreased. This study showed the combined impact of home improvements and IAQ literacy on children’s respiratory health!
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Teacher behaviors and perceptions, air change rates, and portable air purifiers
A study in two Detroit schools examined indoor air quality (IAQ) and the impact of air purifiers. At the start, classrooms had low air change rates, moderate PM2.5 levels, and elevated black carbon (BC) levels due to traffic and industrial emissions. After installing air cleaners, pollutant levels dropped.
Results varied widely between classrooms. This was largely due to differences in teacher behavior, such as how often windows were opened, whether air cleaners were put to use, and what fan speed settings the air cleaners were operated at.
Teachers were generally aware of IAQ issues. Odors from food, cleaning products, and stale air were noted. But noise from air cleaners and other sources (e.g., fans, children, or traffic) led to dissatisfaction and inconsistent air cleaner use in one school.
Overheating in winter and temperature fluctuations were also common complaints. Even so, staff members appreciated efforts to improve environmental conditions, given the age of the buildings.
At one school, air cleaner use was low due to noise, electricity issues, or teachers prioritizing other concerns. At the other school, air cleaners were used more consistently, likely because teachers understood their benefits and communication with school leaders was better. The study highlights that while air cleaners can improve IAQ, their effectiveness depends on proper use and teacher cooperation. Addressing noise and improving communication could help maximize their benefits in schools.
Personal care products and indoor air quality
Several personal care products (cosmetics, perfumes, hair care products etc.) contain chemicals that vaporize and impact indoor air quality. High risk situations are hair and nail saloons.
