Indoor air in four First Nations communities in remote northwestern Ontario contains high concentrations of biocontaminants, mold, fine particles, and other substances that increase the risk of respiratory infections, new research reveals.
In a study of the housing conditions and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in these communities, about 27% of the homes had sustained CO2 concentrations above 1500 ppm. Although 44% of houses had a heat recovery ventilator (HRV), only 8% were in good working condition. Other issues included biocontaminants such as dust mites and fungal glucan, tobacco smoking, and high concentrations of mold.
Dr J. David Miller
"One exposure that led up to the children going to hospital was the chemical called endotoxin," study author J. David Miller, PhD, distinguished research professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, told Medscape Medical News. "When concentrations are too high, it affects lung function and causes a greater response to allergens. The values in the Sioux Lookout Zone were around 1000 times higher than I'd ever seen in any study in the United States or Canada. That was a big surprise."
The study was published online November 22 in PLOS ONE.
Children's Health Endangered
In their study of four First Nations communities in a remote region of northwestern Ontario, the investigators used statistical methods such as linear regression, mixed models, and logistic regression to assess correlations between housing conditions and biocontaminants and indoor concentrations of fine inhalable particles (PM
