The mediation effect of indoor air quality on health: A comparison of homeowners and renters

Abstract

This research aims to explore whether there is a health disparity between homeowners and renters affected by the indoor air quality of their dwellings. By proxying the presence of mold and smoke as conjoint facilitators of poor indoor air quality, we design a mediation model that previously has not been explored empirically. The structural path model in this study shows that there is indeed a disparity in health between homeowners and renters by demography, socioeconomic status, and dwelling condition. Our study argues that renters whose living conditions are generally worse off than homeowners are also unequal in their health status due to exacerbating effects from poor indoor air quality, which is endogenous to the state of the renter. The originality of this study is that it is the first study that empirically tests the mediation effect of poor indoor air quality of homeowners and renters using a structural equation path model.

Poor Water Quality Persists in Diverse Urban Communities

“…However, such testing is not required before a property is rented, leaving tenants at increased risk. Moreover, this often disproportionately exposes diverse and other vulnerable communities to negative health risks [18,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Lead is transmitted to drinking water from the lead and lead-soldered pipes still used in many areas throughout the United States [6].…”

Why should we target the burden of disease for indoor air pollutants?

“…Other studies in this issue focus on the associations between indoor air pollutants and different health outcomes, including meta-analyses of VOCs, 15 radon, 16 and phthalates, 14 and original studies of desert dust and mold, 17,18 and the mediation of indoor air pollution effect on health. 19 Additionally, some studies directly provide the attributable burden of diseases, such as for phthalates 14 and radon. 20 All these studies provide valuable basic data to lay a solid foundation for estimating the burden of disease for indoor air pollutants.…”

“…In particular, several studies in this special issue have evaluated the exposure levels of formaldehyde, 12 typical volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 13 and phthalates 14 in residences, offices, and schools, through systematic review and statistical modeling. Other studies in this issue focus on the associations between indoor air pollutants and different health outcomes, including meta‐analyses of VOCs, 15 radon, 16 and phthalates, 14 and original studies of desert dust and mold, 17,18 and the mediation of indoor air pollution effect on health 19 . Additionally, some studies directly provide the attributable burden of diseases, such as for phthalates 14 and radon 20 .…”