Effects of Occupant Behaviour and Air Filtration on Indoor Air Quality in Social Housing

Indoor air pollution poses a significant threat to human health, making it crucial to identify sources, assess levels, and develop strategies to enhance indoor air quality. The main objective of this paper is to assess Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and the effectiveness of air purifiers and tailored behavioural interventions in improving IAQ in social housing properties in London. The methodology involved monitoring key pollutants, including Carbon Monoxide (CO), Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs), and humidity levels using data loggers during three distinct phases: a) pre-intervention, b) with air purifiers, and c) after the behavioural intervention. The installation of air purifiers significantly reduced CO and PM10 levels, consistently maintaining them near or below recommended guidelines across all CSBs; however, the impact on TVOC levels was less pronounced, with levels often remaining above the recommended guideline. Subsequent behavioural interventions aimed at educating occupants on best practices for reducing pollutant generation yielded variable results across CSBs and pollutants. The study demonstrated the potential benefits of combining air purifier installation with tailored behavioural interventions, effectively reducing CO, PM10, and PM2.5 levels. However, the persistent issue of elevated TVOC levels across all case study buildings underscores the need for further research and more comprehensive strategies, including source control measures.