Results from Air Quality Monitoring and Surveys in UK Residences - Appendix (Survey Questions)

Survey questions used in the paper titled "Results from Air Quality Monitoring and Surveys in UK Residences". Abstract below.

Air pollution is a persistent issue in dwellings worldwide, costing an estimated 10-25 billion US dollars per year to the United Kingdom’s national health service alone. However, it is an “invisible problem” since background pollutants are often imperceptible except during acute pollution events such as wildfires. Although public awareness of ventilation has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are few tools available to assess its efficacy. Widely available sensor systems that can measure these pollutants tend to be single units with simple apps and little connection to mitigation, whereas different rooms in a house may have different pollution issues with different recommended actions. In this study, we present the results of a measurement study conducted using a multi-room sensor kit in twenty-nine dwellings across the UK. We also analyze the occupants’ reaction to the hardware, data, and a prototype alerting system. The study shows broad awareness of air quality in the participants. However, this awareness rarely corresponded to effective mitigation actions or ventilation provision. The concept of alerts was welcomed by participants if accompanied by actionable recommendations.

The data showed significant pollution events, as measured by proxies such as total VOC and CO2, occurring almost daily, particularly in households with gas appliances. These incidents were concentrated around particular times of day and behaviors, indicating that the capacity of infiltration and extract ventilation to bring in adequate fresh air was overwhelmed. No significant outdoor pollution was detected in houses, which was expected given their sheltered peri-urban locations. The study highlights the need for comprehensive implementation of measurement, ventilation, and treatment measures in the UK housing stock to reduce the impact of indoor pollution on health.

《英国住宅空气质量监测与调研结果》一文所使用的调研问卷，下文为该论文摘要。

空气污染是全球住宅领域长期存在的共性问题，仅英国国民保健署（National Health Service）每年为此承担的医疗成本就高达100至250亿美元。但空气污染属于“隐形问题”：日常背景污染物通常难以被人体察觉，仅在野火等突发性污染事件期间才会显现。尽管受新冠疫情（COVID-19 pandemic）影响，公众对通风的认知有所提升，但目前可用的通风效果评估工具仍较为匮乏。当前市面上可用于监测此类污染物的传感器系统多为单机设备，搭配简易应用程序，且与污染缓解措施的关联度极低；但住宅内不同房间的污染问题各不相同，对应的干预建议也存在差异。本研究基于多房间传感器套件（multi-room sensor kit），对英国境内29处住宅开展了实地监测并展示其结果，同时分析了住宅住户对监测硬件、监测数据及原型预警系统的使用反馈。调研结果显示，参与受试者普遍具备空气质量相关认知，但此类认知极少能转化为有效的污染缓解行动或合理的通风措施。若预警信息附带可执行的行动建议，受试者普遍对此类预警方案表示认可。

监测数据显示，以总挥发性有机化合物（Volatile Organic Compounds, VOC）和二氧化碳（Carbon Dioxide, CO2）为代表的污染指标出现显著超标事件的频率接近每日一次，在使用燃气器具的住宅中尤为突出。此类污染事件多集中在每日特定时段及特定行为场景中，表明住宅的渗透通风与排风系统已无法满足引入足量新鲜空气的需求。本次调研未在住宅内检测到显著的室外污染，这一结果符合预期——因所有住宅均位于相对隐蔽的近郊区域。本研究强调，英国住宅存量亟需全面落实污染监测、通风优化与治理措施，以降低室内空气污染对居民健康的负面影响。