Evaluating Indoor Air Pollution in Urban, Low-Income, Multi-Family Buildings: A Case Study from Cincinnati, Ohio

Indoor air pollution is a major environmental health risk, and research has identified large disparities across population groups in the United States in both exposure and adverse health impacts associated with various pollutants. The present study extends this work through a case study of 44 low-income, primarily African American renters in multifamily, subsidized housing units in the City of Cincinnati, Ohio. The study analyzes data from high-frequency measurement of particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) over a six-month period. We find substantial variation in indoor air pollutant concentrations across pollutants, time of day, season, and apartment units, with measurements of several pollutants regularly above standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). In the majority of cases occupants spent more than half their day with NO₂ concentrations that measured above the WHO 24-hour standard. Correlational analysis shows that indoor concentrations of CO and NO 2 track with outdoor concentrations, but this relationship is not observed for PM 2.5 . In addition, there is suggestive evidence that use of heating systems and smoking is associated with higher concentrations of NO₂ and PM 2.5 , respectively, and that the use of cooking stoves is positively associated with concentrations of NO₂.