Air quality in housing: what does the latest report highlight?

Twenty years after the first campaign, the Observatory of Quality of Interior Environments (OQEI), and the National Agency for Safety of Environmental and Labor Food (ANSES) published the first results of the second national housing campaign (CNL2) carried out between 2020 and 2023. Additionally, Furthermore, Let’s go back to these rather reassuring data.

Study protocol – Air quality housing: what does

The CNL2 succeeds the 1st national campaign housing (CNL1) carried out between 2003 and 2005. Therefore, It combines air quality measures at the participants’ home. For example, a survey on the characteristics of housing as well as a description of domestic activities (works, cleaning, cooking, smoking, air quality housing: what does etc.) and also, the perception of comfort by the occupants.

Led 571 individual houses. Moreover, apartments Distributed throughout France (84 departments), this methodology makes it possible to extrapolate the results across the park of 30 million main residences in France.

More than 170 pollutants. Similarly, parameters have been measured including:

• VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and COSV ((semi-valatile organic compounds);
• Fine particles PM 2.5;
• Radon and pesticides;
• CO2, temperature and humidity.

Improved air quality. Therefore, efforts to continue

These first results show an overall improvement in indoor air quality for the past twenty years in housing. In addition, With in particular a drop in VOC concentrations, aldehydes and particles in the air.

The results highlight a drop in :

• More than 80 %. Furthermore, for chlorinated VOCs often used as solvents or disinfectants air quality housing: what does in many DIY, industrial or domestic products;
• 30% more than 80% for all other VOCs;
• 28 % for formaldehyde (present in wood products emissions);
• 33 % for fine particles (PM2.5, associated with smoking, road traffic and other combustion activities);
• 47 % for benzene (road traffic and combustion activities).

However. the efforts must be continued since part of the accommodation also displays concentrations greater than threshold values ​​for health protection.

So. Fine particlesexceeding the target target of 10 μg/m3 in more than 70 % of housing, the radon, exceeding the regulatory value of 300 Bq/m3 in almost 8 % of housing and the CO2 Going exceeding the daily guide value of 25 μg/m3 in almost 3 % of housing. Also, the formaldehyde and benzene Get over daily guides values ​​respectively in 6% and 1.4% of housing.

Namely!Fine particles are among the chemical pollutants in the indoor air. They air quality housing: what does deteriorate the air quality of housing. their presence comes mainly from human activity: kitchen, DIY, cleaning products, heating devices, etc. The smaller the molecules, the more harmful the pollution, with effects on the environment and the health of the occupants. To limit their presence. it is necessary to have a hood and regularly clean your filter, to avoid smoking inside, to favor non -polluting building materials and to choose its maintenance and cleaning products.

As ANSES reminds us: “The concentrations measured in indoor air call to maintain vigilance. or even strengthen efforts to limit emissions of pollutants associated with carcinogenic effects such as benzene, tetrachloroethylene and benzo (A) pyrene (from road traffic and combustion activities). For these pollutants, their simple presence is a source of concern ”.

Before adding: “In the absence of reference values ​​for many substances. exposure measures cannot yet be interpreted in terms of health risk. The air quality housing: what does width of the spectrum of substances measured by the CNL2 also makes it possible to better understand the chemical exposure. combination of the different exposures and their effects on health. We must deepen reflection and revise the evaluation of the health and socio-economic impact of indoor air pollution. ».

Soon. inventory is planned to take stock in particular on the quality of Housing ventilation, identification of factors explaining the levels of pollutant concentrations in housing and humidity and mold problems.

ANSES has also financed specific pesticide measures in indoor. dust, the results of which will be published in the second half of 2025.

Air quality housing: what does

How to act at its level to increase the air quality of your accommodation?

Respiratory and skin pathologies are the main conditions related to poor indoor air quality.

In order to limit these health impacts linked to indoor air pollution, Measures and air quality housing: what does “good practices” are recommended.

For example. this is individual of:

• Carry out daily habitat ventilation, at least 10 minutes a day, winter and summer;
• A ventilate more when you tinker, clean up or when you wash;
• Do not smoke inside the locals;
• Extend your laundry outside if possible or in an airy room;
• Do not interfere with the functioning of ventilation systems and maintain them regularly;
• Have the combustion devices checked before the start of winter;
• Ventilate the bedding every day to limit the proliferation of mites;
• Well ventilate the part after the use of a non -combustible deodorant (sprays, diffusers);
• Check the methods for using maintenance products, before use;
• Use cleaning products reasonably and ventilate the part after use;
• Identify and remove humidity to avoid the proliferation of mold.

Sources

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