Health-demand ventilation control strategy in northern Chinese homes : how much ventilation do we need to protect occupants’ health

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A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä

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en

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8

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Frontiers in Built Environment, Volume 11

Abstract

Introduction: Indoor air quality in dwellings has particular importance regarding occupants’ health. Ventilation is an important means to improve indoor air quality and guarantee occupants’ health. Methods: We utilized CO2 produced by occupants to measure air exchange rate (i.e., the volumetric out-to-indoor airflow rate divided by building volume, h−1) in Chinese homes, which were then linked to health outcomes like asthma and sick building syndrome symptom. Finally, we proposed a “health-demand” ventilation control strategy according to the relationship between air exchange rate and health outcomes. Results and Discussion: Each 0.1 h−1 increase in air exchange rate at night was associated with adjusted odds ratios of 0.97 (Confidence Interval (CI): 0.94–1.00) for rhinitis among children and 0.95 (95% CI: 0.91–0.98) for mucosal sick building symptom among adults. Finally, we proposed a “health-demand” ventilation control strategy according to the relationship between air exchange rate and health outcomes. Air exchange rate of 2.5 h−1 and 6.5 h−1 was suggested to deal with sick building syndrome symptoms among adults and rhinitis symptoms among children, respectively.

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Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2025 Wang, Hou, Fu, Tian, Feng, Kosonen and Sun.

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Wang, Z, Hou, J, Fu, J, Tian, Z, Feng, S, Kosonen, R & Sun, Y 2025, 'Health-demand ventilation control strategy in northern Chinese homes : how much ventilation do we need to protect occupants’ health', Frontiers in Built Environment, vol. 11, 1510965. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2025.1510965