A new study co-authored by researchers from Illinois Institute of Technology, the University of Texas at Arlington, and Elevate indicates that improved residential ventilation systems can help adults with asthma breathe more easily. The research focused on how different types of home ventilation systems impact indoor air quality and respiratory health among adults living with asthma.
The three-year project took place in Chicago between 2017 and 2020. After a year of baseline monitoring, participants received one of three types of ventilation upgrades: continuously running bathroom exhaust fans to draw in outdoor air, a supply fan connected to the central heating and cooling system operating intermittently, or an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) that both brought in fresh air and expelled stale air while conserving energy.
The results, published in Building and Environment, showed all ventilation systems improved indoor air quality and reduced asthma symptoms during the study’s second year when the systems were active. The ERV system produced the largest improvements in asthma outcomes.
The research team found the most significant benefits among lower-income households and Black and African American participants. Older adults over age 45 also experienced greater improvements.
“Recognizing how significantly indoor environments influence people’s health inspired me to dedicate my research to improving public health and supporting vulnerable and underserved communities,” said Insung Kang, assistant professor at UTA. “When we visited homes, we could see the difference these systems made, especially for families facing economic or environmental disparities.”
Brent Stephens of Illinois Tech noted: “This work would not have been possible without funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the time and energy of our colleagues, contractors, and recruitment teams, donations from several manufacturers, and, of course, our study participants, each of whom invited us into their homes for air quality monitoring, welcomed our contractors to install ventilation systems in their homes, and completed dozens of surveys throughout the project.”
Anne Evens, CEO of Elevate added: “This research confirms that improved ventilation isn’t just a building upgrade, it’s a public health solution. We’re honored to collaborate with the University of Texas at Arlington and Illinois Tech on this groundbreaking study. Together, we’re demonstrating how evidence-based housing interventions can reduce health disparities and help families breathe easier."
Kang completed this project as part of his doctoral work at Illinois Tech. He now leads the Built Environment and Health research group at UTA where he continues investigating healthier building practices.