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Abstract: Worldwide, public policies are promoting energy‐efficient buildings and accelerating the thermal renovation of existing buildings. The effects of these changes on the indoor air quality (IAQ) in these buildings remain insufficiently understood. In this context, a field study was conducted in 72 energy‐efficient dwellings to describe the pollutants known to be associated with health concerns. Measured parameters included the concentrations of 19 volatile organic compounds and aldehydes, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (PM2.5), radon, temperature, and relative humidity. The air stuffiness index and night‐time air exchange rate were calculated from the monitored carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. Indoor and outdoor measurements were performed at each dwelling during 1 week in each of the two following seasons: heating and non‐heating. Moreover, questionnaires were completed by the occupants to characterize the building, equipment, household, and occupants’ habits. Perspective on our results was provided by previous measurements made in low‐energy European dwellings. Statistical comparisons with the French housing stock and a pilot study showed higher concentrations of terpenes, that is, alpha‐pinene and limonene, and hexaldehyde in our study than in previous studies. Alpha‐pinene and hexaldehyde are emitted by wood or wood‐based products used for the construction, insulation, decoration, and furnishings of the dwellings, whereas limonene is more associated with discontinuous sources related to human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children exposure to molds in the school and preschool environment is not well described in France. A nationwide survey was performed in 2009-2011 in 310 schools and nurseries from France including two oversea territories, Reunion and Martinique. It showed that 5 % of the audited rooms had visible molds, mainly on the ceiling. These rooms belonged to 34 buildings (11 %). The multivariate analysis shows that several factors are associated with visible molds in rooms: the presence of textile wall covering, the location of the building in a suburban area, the size of the building (less visible molds in large buildings), the absence of a ventilation system with exhaust located in the room, and the absence of double-glazed windows. The prevalence of visible molds is comparable to the one observed in large European studies: 7 % of the 334 classrooms in the frame of the SINPHONIE project and 11 % of the buildings in 193 elementary schools in the HITEA study., (Copyright © 2018 SPLF. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)