Residential indoor environment and self-reported health in Northeast China

摘要

The indoor environment quality of residential buildings has a significant impact on the occupants' health and wellbeing. To determine associations between characteristics of residential indoor environment and health, A Pan-Northeast China survey has been undertaken in 1836 residential buildings in 2014. The results show that there were multiple risk factors in residential buildings: thermal problems in summer, noise exposure in the living room; air too dry, thermal problems in summer in the bedroom; odor, mold growth in the kitchen; thermal problems in winter, odor in the wash room, dressing room and bathroom; thermal problems in winter, odor in the toilet; in the entrance. Moreover, there were significant associations between indoor environment factors (thermal environment, lighting environment, acoustic environment, indoor air quality, safety, and hygiene) and self-reported health (subjective health, specific symptoms and diseases). Furthermore, overall indoor environment was also significantly associated with self-reported health. The Pan-Northeast China survey provides a useful database to identify risk factors related to indoor environmental quality and occupants' health, which is helpful for improving knowledge of the impacts of existing indoor environment conditions on health.