Indoor Air Quality Research

This content was archived on June 24, 2013.

Health Canada organizes and conducts research on indoor air quality and its effect on health. This section provides brief summaries of some recent research projects and publications. For more information about our research or to obtain a copy of a technical report please contact us.

On this Page

• Indoor Air Quality in Canadian Homes
• Montreal Day Care Study
• Published Results
  • Technical Reports
  • Scientific Research Journals

Indoor Air Quality in Canadian Homes

Health Canada works with partners in different regions of the country on targeted studies that measure the levels of indoor air pollutants inside and outside of Canadian homes, and evaluate how indoor air quality is affected by different housing characteristics (e.g. age, heating type, recent renovations) and occupants' activities.

Indoor air parameters monitored include carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), temperature, relative humidity and air exchange rates.

These data are used by Health Canada to assess Canadians' exposure to indoor air pollutants in their homes, to measure the effect of outdoor air pollution on indoor air quality, and to identify steps to improve residential indoor air quality.

Studies have been conducted in:

• Windsor, Ontario (2005, 2006) with the University of Windsor, as part of the Border Air Quality Strategy (BASQS).
• Quebec City, Quebec (2005) with L'Institute National de Santé Publique de Québec
• Regina, Saskatchewan (2007) with the Regina Qu'Appelle Public Health Authority
• Halifax, Nova Scotia (2009) with Dalhousie University
• Edmonton, Alberta (2010) with the University of Alberta

Montreal Day Care Study

Health Canada, in collaboration with Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and McGill University Health Centre, conducted a study from January to March 2008 on the indoor air quality in 21 daycare centres in Montreal and collected parent-reported incidence of respiratory symptoms (e.g. runny nose, wheezing, cough) among the 170 children attending them. The aim of this study was to provide Health Canada with information on the relationship among ventilation, indoor air quality and children's respiratory health. Data collection and processing has now been completed, and results will be published following the completion of the statistical analysis.

Published Results

Technical Reports

Health Canada produces technical reports to make the data collected during its research available to the public. To obtain a copy of a technical report listed below please contact us

Regina Indoor Air Quality Study (2007): Data Summary for VOC Sampling
Health Canada and the Regina Qu'Appelle Regional Health Authority collected 24-hour and 5-day indoor and outdoor samples for 194 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from 146 homes in Regina, Saskatchewan. This report provides the summary statistics on exposures to VOCs both indoors and outdoors. Results are presented separately for smoking and non-smoking homes. Interpretation and detailed analysis of the data will be included in articles published in scientific journals, but are not provided in this report.

Windsor Exposure Assessment Study (2005–2006): Data Summary for VOC Sampling
As part of the Border Air Quality Strategy (BAQS), Health Canda and the University of Windsor collected 24-hour personal, indoor and outdoor exposure samples for 188 volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A total of 100 participants in Windsor, Ontario were followed over two 1-year periods. This report provides the summary statistics on exposures to VOCs both indoors and outdoors. Interpretation and detailed analysis of the data will be included in articles published in scientific journals, but are not provided in this report.

Scientific Journal Articles

Health Canada's researchers, working with colleagues from other government departments and universities, publish the results and findings of their research in scientific journals. Copies of these articles can be obtained directly from the journal's publisher.

Clark, N.A, Allen, R.W., Hystad, P., Wallace, L., Dell, S.D., Foty, R.G., Dabek-Zlotorzynska, E., Evans, G., and Wheeler, A.J. (2010) Exploring Variation and Predictors of Residential Fine Particulate Matter Infiltration. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 7(8); 3211-3224.

Héroux, M-E, Clark, N., Van Ryswyk, K., Mallick, R., Gilbert, N.L., Harrison, I., Rispler, K., Wang, D., Anastassopoulos, A., Guay, M., MacNeill, M., and Wheeler, A.J. (2010) Predictors of Indoor Air Concentrations in Smoking and Non-Smoking Residences. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 7(8); 3080-3099.

Loo, C.K.J., Foty, R.G., Wheeler, A.J., Miller, J.D., Evans, G., Stieb, D.M., and Dell, S.D. (2010) Do Questions Reflecting Indoor Air Pollutant Exposure from a Questionnaire Predict Direct Measure of Exposure in Owner-Occupied Houses? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 7(8), 3270-3297.

Dales, R., Liu, L., Wheeler, A.J., and Gilbert, N.L. (2008) Public health: Quality of indoor residential air and health. CMAJ. 79(2); 147-152.

Gilbert, N.L., Guay, M., Gauvin, D., Dietz, R.N., Chan, C.C. and Lévesque , B. (2008) Air Change Rate and Concentration of Formaldehyde in Residential Indoor Air. Atmospheric Environment. 42; 2424-2428.

Héroux, M.-E., Gauvin, D., Gilbert, N.L., Guay, M., Dupuis, G., Legris, M. and Lévesque, B. (2008) Housing characteristics and indoor concentrations of Selected Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Quebec City, Canada. Indoor and Built Environments. 17(2); 128-137.

Stocco, C., MacNeill, M., Wang, D., Xu, X., Guay, M., Brook, J., and Wheeler, A. (2008) Predicting personal exposure of Windsor, Ontario residents to volatile organic compounds using indoor measurements and survey data. Atmospheric Environment. 42; 5905-5912.

Gilbert, NL, D Gauvin, M Guay, ME Héroux, G Dupuis, M Legris, CC Chan, RN Dietz, B Lévesque. (2006) Housing characteristics and indoor concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde in Quebec City, Canada, Environmental Research; 102: 1-8.

Dales, R, D Miller, K Ruest, M Guay, and S Judek. (2006) Airborne Endotoxin Is Associated with Respiratory Illness in the First 2 Years of Life, Environmental Health Perspectives; 114: 610-614.

Kovesi, T, D Creery, NL Gilbert, R Dales, D Fugler, B Thompson, V Randhawa, and JD Miller. (2006) Indoor Air Quality risk factors for severe lower respiratory tract infections in Inuit infants in Baffin Region, Nunavut: a pilot study, Indoor Air; 16: 266-275.

Gilbert, NL, M Guay, JD Miller, S Judek, CC Chan, and RE Dales. (2005) Levels and determinants of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein in residential indoor air in Prince Edward Island, Canada, Environmental Research 2005; 99: 11-17.