Environment and Health in Children Day Care Centres (ENVIRH) - Study rationale and protocol

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Pediatric Health
• Building Science

Background:

• Indoor air quality (IAQ) is crucial for human health, particularly in environments frequented by children.
• The specific impacts of common indoor pollutants (VOCs, PM, dust mites, molds, bacteria) in day care centers (DCCs) on health are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between indoor air quality parameters and the respiratory and allergic health of children attending DCCs.
• To collect comprehensive data on building characteristics, ventilation, IAQ, and health outcomes in DCCs.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase study involving 45 DCCs in Phase I and 20 selected DCCs in Phase II.
• Data collection included building assessments, indoor environmental monitoring (CO2, temperature, humidity), questionnaires on respiratory health (ISAAC-derived), and biomarkers for airway inflammation and viral infections.

Main Results:

• Phase I collected data on building characteristics, occupant behavior, and ventilation surrogates from all 45 DCCs.
• Phase II involved 1221 children, with data on IAQ, thermal comfort, health outcomes, and stress.
• Results linking DCC characteristics, IAQ, and health outcomes are forthcoming to inform recommendations.

Conclusions:

• The study outlines methodologies for investigating IAQ and respiratory health in DCCs.
• The findings will support the development of a building ventilation model and provide evidence-based recommendations for improving IAQ in childcare settings.