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| Abstract Title:
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| Indoor NO2 Exposure and Respiratory Health Outcomes: Evidence from NHANES III
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| Graduate Student Presenter:
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R. J. Briggs
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| Name of the Author(s) and Affiliation(s):
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R. J. Briggs, The University of Texas at Austin
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Abstract: I investigate the effect of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from indoor sources on adult respiratory health using spirometric data from NHANES III and the US EPA’s AirData. I employ a physical model of the indoor environment and an economic model of ventilation choice to control for exposure to NO2. The models and data capture variation in exposure to NO2 due to outdoor NO2 concentration, use of natural gas and kerosene-fueled space heaters, use of a natural gas stove, home characteristics, and the use of a range hood for ventilation during cooking events. I control for the endogeneity of the use of kitchen ventilation by using data on local building codes: the cost of obtaining and using proper ventilation in a home depends on local building codes but does not independently affect respiratory health. In two auxiliary analyses, I further control for variation in home air exchange rates by climatic region and variation in time spent cooking. Preliminary analyses suggest that people with poor respiratory health are indeed more likely to use kitchen ventilation. Nonetheless, in a non-instrumental variables analysis, gas stove use without habitual ventilation is significantly correlated (α = 0.01) with reduced maximal mid-expiratory flow. This finding is weakly consistent with the hypothesis that regular exposure to NO2 generated by cooking events indoors leads to obstructive respiratory conditions such as asthma. Results of this research are preliminary and incomplete at present. Comments are welcome.
Keywords: indoor air quality, NO2, gas stove, respiratory health, NHANES III
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