Indoor Air Quality and Thermal Comfort—Results of a Pilot Study in Elderly Care Centers in Portugal

Abstract

The age of the European population is rising and percentage of adults aged 65 years and older is projected to increase from 16% in 2000 to 20% in 2020. It has been estimated that older subjects spend approximately 19 to 20 h/d indoors. Older individuals may be particularly at risk for detrimental effects from pollutants, even at low concentrations, due to reduced immunological defenses and multiple underlying chronic diseases. Six Porto, Portugal, urban area elderly care centers (ECC), housing a total of 425 older persons, were studied to assess indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort (TC) in two seasons. This study presents the IAQ and TC results in 36 rooms and constitutes part of a wider and ongoing study. The study areas were all naturally ventilated, and indoor concentrations in winter were within Portuguese reference values. However, 42% of the participants were dissatisfied with indoor thermal conditions, rating it "slightly cool." In summer, the index rate of dissatisfied individuals was lower (8%). Significant differences were found between seasons in predicted percent of dissatisfied people (PPD) and predicted mean vote (PMV) indices. Fungal concentrations frequently exceeded reference levels (>500 colony-forming units [CFU]/m 3 ). In addition, other pollutants occasionally exceeded reference levels. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Portugal to assess effects of indoor air contaminants on the health status and quality of life in older subjects living in ECC. Although IAQ and TC parameters were mostly within reference values, the results suggest a need to improve the balance between IAQ and TC in ECC, a critical environment housing a susceptible population.The air one breathes inside buildings dominates overall inhalation exposure of most air pollutants, whether of indoor or outdoor origin (Corsi et al., 2012). As levels of outdoor ambient pollution have decreased in many areas, the relative impact of indoor air pollution has grown, and thus indoor air quality (IAQ) has increasingly gained importance. Indoor environments are often considered to be among the healthiest and safest places, particularly for older individuals who possess unique health needs and environmental sensitivities. In addition to IAQ, thermal comfort (TC) is a key indoor factor that might affect comfort, health, and performance. TC is chiefly determined by temperature, humidity, and air Bradshaw et al., 2012). Older subjects may be particularly at risk of detrimental effects from air pollutants, even at low concentrations, due to their reduced immunological defenses and multiple underlying chronic diseases. Exposure to poor IAQ may produce or exacerbate eye irritation, nausea, upper respiratory complications, cognitive impairment, asthma, respiratory infections, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer (Ferng and Lee, 2002). Thus, IAQ is a special concern for ECC residents, important for both health and quality of life.Risk assessment processes inadequately address susceptibi...

Structuring the Environmental Experience Design Research Framework through Selected Aged Care Facility Data Analyses in Victoria

“…One can observe elevated PM0.3-10.0 concentration measured at communal area during day times, which is consistent with CO2 concentration profile. Menders and his colleagues investigated a wide of range of indoor environmental quality parameters (including CO2 and particle concentrations, thermal condition parameters) of elderly care centers in GERIE study (Geriatric study on health effects of air quality in nursing homes) [37][38][39][40]. The aged care residents were exposed to higher level of CO2, but warmer temperature in this case study than GERIE project.…”

Fungal Contamination Assessment in Portuguese Elderly Care Centers

“…In developed countries individuals spend 80-90% of their day indoors and elderly subjects are likely to spend even more time indoors (Almeida-Silva et al, 2014;Saksena et al, 2003). Thus, indoor air pollutants may play a critical for this age group (Simone et al, 2003;Mendes et al, 2013).…”

Individual Exposure to Air Pollutants in a Portuguese Urban Industrialized Area

“…In this context, the study of exposure of individuals to air pollution is a subject of vital importance. Concern needs to focus not only on ambient air contaminant levels, but also on indoor air quality (Annesi-Maesano et al, 2013;Mendes et al, 2013), due to the amount of time people spend in these environments.…”