Air Quality Risks in Public Housing

How does indoor air quality in public housing compare with outdoor air quality in a region with an A rating from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?In this cohort study of 12 public housing communities in southeastern Virgina, daily indoor PM concentrations were significantly higher than outdoor air concentrations. Most indoor readings were in the moderate or worse EPA categories, while most outdoor readings were classified as good.Results of this study suggest that, even in regions with top-rated outdoor air quality, public housing residents may experience poor indoor conditions, highlighting the need for targeted pollution-reduction and equity-focused interventions.

Corresponding Author: Brynn E. Sheehan, PhD, Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University, 855 W Brambleton Ave, Norfolk, VA 23510 (sheehabe@odu.edu).

Link to the article in your story

We encourage you to link out to this article in your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)

Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Need more information? Contact us.