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Particulate Matter in Multi-Unit Social Housing: Impacts of Smoking, Season, and Building Retrofits
Alexander Mendell, Alireza Mahdavi, Yuchao Wan, JEFFREY SIEGEL, University of Toronto
Abstract Number: 379
Working Group: Indoor Aerosols
Abstract
We investigated PM2.5, total suspended particle (TSP), and particle-bound SVOC concentrations in 75 social housing apartments in Toronto before and after energy-reduction retrofits. Smoking (either self-reported on a questionnaire and/or indicated by presence of tobacco odours and apparatus) lead to indoor PM2.5 concentrations that were approximately four times greater than in homes without smoking, as well as higher TSP concentrations. Considerable variation in the smoking effect was likely driven by smoking frequency. Seasonality (late fall vs. late spring) was a much smaller impact and was only evident in non-smoking apartments. The building retrofits did not influence particle concentrations, potentially due to the fact that PM sources as well as ventilation were largely unaddressed in the retrofit approach. Particle bound phthalates and PAHs followed similar trends to PM2.5 and TSP. When compared to PM2.5 concentrations measured in 20 single-family non-smoking homes in Toronto, the PM2.5 concentrations in the non-smoking apartments were approximately a factor of two larger, potentially owing to interunit transport of environmental tobacco smoke and other particle sources. However, the TSP concentrations were higher in the Toronto single family homes, likely due differences in measurement approach, house age, and filtration system operation. Overall, the results suggest that energy retrofits can achieve carbon goals without adversely impacting indoor air quality. Apartment unit compartmentalization and/or other approaches to reduce smoking should be considered in future retrofits of social housing.