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Relationship among environmental quality variables, housing variables, and residential needs: a secondary analysis of the relationship among indoor, outdoor, and personal air (RIOPA) concentrations database

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Abstract

Retrospective descriptive secondary analyses of data from relationships of indoor, outdoor, and personal air (RIOPA) study homes (in Houston, Texas; Los Angeles County, California; and, Elizabeth, New Jersey May 1999–February 2001) were conducted. Data included air exchange rates, associations between indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity, and calculated apparent temperature and humidex. Analyses examined if study homes provided optimum thermal comfort for residents during both heating and cooling seasons when compared to current American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standards 62/62.1 and 55. Results suggested outdoor temperature, humidex, and apparent temperature during the cooling season potentially served as indicators of indoor personal exposure to parameters of thermal comfort. Outdoor temperatures, humidex, and apparent temperature during the cooling season had statistically significant predictive abilities in predicting indoor temperature. During the heating season, only humidex in Texas and combined data across study states were statistically significant, but with weaker to moderate predicative ability. The high degree of correlation between outdoor and indoor environmental variables provided support for the validity of epidemiologic studies of weather relying on temporal comparisons. Results indicated most RIOPA study residents experienced thermal comfort; however, many values indicated how several residents may have experienced some discomfort depending on clothing and indoor activities. With climate change, increases in temperature are expected, with more days of extreme heat and humidity and, potentially harsher, longer winters. Homes being built or modernized should be created with the appropriate guidelines to provide comfort for residents daily and in extreme weather events.

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Acknowledgments

This project was completed during the MPH fieldwork of the first author; there were no external funding sources to report. We thank Dr. Qingyu Meng, PhD, MS (Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH)) and Angelo Bellomo, MS (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health) for input and Alexa Patti, BS, REHS, MPH (Rutgers SPH) for draft manuscript review.

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Author notes

  1. Fausto Garcia Jr.

    Present address: Teaneck (NJ) Health Department, Teaneck, NJ, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for School and Community-Based Research and Education (CSCBRE), Rutgers School of Public Health (SPH), 335 George Street, Suite 2200, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903-2688, USA

    Fausto Garcia Jr., Derek G. Shendell & Jaime Madrigano

  2. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (ENOH), SPH, 3rd Fl. SPH Bldg, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Derek G. Shendell & Jaime Madrigano

  3. Environmental and Occupational Health Science Institute (EOHSI), Exposure Measurement and Assessment Division, Rutgers University, 170 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Derek G. Shendell

  4. Department of Environmental and Occupational HealthRutgers School of Public Health, 683 Hoes Lane West, 3rd Floor, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Derek G. Shendell

Authors
  1. Fausto Garcia Jr.
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  2. Derek G. Shendell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Derek G. Shendell.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 7 Summary of data (NJ, TX, CA) on RIOPA study participant indoor activities related to ventilating and cooling or heating the home
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Table 8 Summary of weather station corrected data (NJ, TX, CA) on apparent temperature and humidex in the cooling and heating seasons
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Garcia, F., Shendell, D.G. & Madrigano, J. Relationship among environmental quality variables, housing variables, and residential needs: a secondary analysis of the relationship among indoor, outdoor, and personal air (RIOPA) concentrations database. Int J Biometeorol 61, 513–525 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1229-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-016-1229-5

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