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This study investigated the indoor environment of urban and rural elderly residential dwellings in Dalian and Beijing during the heating period in 2017–2018. Each dwelling was assessed for temperature, relative humidity, air pollution and biological pollution, as well as blood pressure parameters related to the health of the elderly. The results showed that the temperature in urban dwellings was higher and more stable than that in rural dwellings, due to the difference in heating devices. Indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in some dwellings exceeded the limit. Indoor formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOC) were lower than the limit values, while urban dwellings had more formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) pollution than rural dwellings. For rural houses, indoor fuel combustion resulted in higher concentrations of particulate matter below 2.5 microns (PM2.5) and higher concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO). The biological pollution in rural areas was generally higher than in urban areas. The blood pressure of the elderly in rural areas was higher than that in urban areas, and blood pressure was found to be negatively correlated with room temperature and positively correlated with relative humidity. These results can provide an indicator for the improvement of housing environmental quality for older people in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study intends to investigate indoor thermal environment in homes with elderly people during heating season in Beijing, China. The investigation was performed from December 2016 to February 2017, involving both urban and rural houses. Heating equipment, indoor clothing and thermal sensation of the elderly, and indoor physical parameters were analyzed through subjective surveys and objective measurements. Results show that different types of heating systems/devices are used in urban and rural houses. Overall, the heating duration of rural houses is longer than that of urban houses in winter. In terms of indoor air temperature, urban elderly people experienced warmer and steadier thermal environments than rural elderly people. During the investigation, the average air temperature in living rooms/elderly people's bedrooms of urban houses was 21.9 ± 2.2 °C/21.5 ± 2.8 °C, significantly higher than 16.1 ± 3.5 °C/14.6 ± 3.3 °C of rural houses. Additionally, rural elderly people usually encountered a large temperature step between indoors and outdoors, due to frequent exit and entry. Despite of relatively low air temperatures in rural houses, the elderly reported that the indoor thermal environment was acceptable, since the elderly in rural areas wear thicker clothes indoors in winter. This also indicated the acceptable temperature for elderly people in rural areas was lower than that for elderly people in urban areas. It is noted that the acceptable temperature may not satisfy long-term physical health requirements of the elderly. More studies are needed to determine reasonable temperature for both thermal comfort and health of the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2013, a comprehensive investigation of environmental conditions was carried out in schoolchildren's houses during winter and summer in Beijing, China. The houses were divided into two Groups (Group A: unhealthy children's houses; Group B: healthy children's houses). According to the field measurement, inappropriate thermal environment contributed by indoor low temperatures and RHs in winter and dampness in summer could affect childhood health. The beyond standard (1000 ppm) situations of CO 2 concentration revealed poor ventilation in houses of Group A, which could increase the risk of children's asthma and respiratory infections. Indoor carbonyls and VOCs levels in almost all the homes did not exceed the guideline. However, the integrated influence of these compounds should be noted for possible adverse health effects, especially in child's bedroom where children spent more time. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were most frequently detected SVOCs in house dust. In summer, the average child's daily intake of phthalates from house dust in homes of Group A was significantly higher ( p < 0.01) than that of Group B. Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. accounted for about 90% of indoor airborne fungi. Airborne fungal levels in about 70% of measured rooms exceeded 1000 cfu/m 3 in summer. The high correlation between airborne fungi and PM was found, consequently, children's health could be affected by the combined action of airborne fungi and PM. These results were helpful to evaluate and design healthy housing environment for schoolchildren. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]