Accessible Indoor Air in the Built Environment

2023-2026

This project has been funded in part by Accessibility Standards Canada, Government of Canada, with ethics approval from the Women’s College Hospital, Toronto

Project Summary

Accessible Air in the Built Environment is a national mixed-methods research project led by ASEQ-EHAQ in partnership with Accessibility Standards Canada. The project examines how indoor air quality affects accessibility, inclusion, health, and participation in the built environment, particularly for individuals living with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and other disabilities affected by environmental exposures.

The project is the first Canadian study to evaluate whether fragrance-free policies are associated with measurable improvements in indoor air quality while also documenting the real-world accessibility impacts of poor indoor air quality through national focus groups with Canadians living with disabilities.

Project at a Glance

34 Buildings Tested
7 Provinces Represented
1,156 Indoor Air Quality Measurements
60 Participants
190 VOCs Identified

Why This Research Matters

Canadians spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. Indoor air quality influences health, comfort, productivity, and accessibility. For many people living with MCS, asthma, migraines, and other chronic conditions, exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fragranced products, cleaning chemicals, pesticides, and building materials can create significant barriers to accessing workplaces, healthcare facilities, housing, schools, and public spaces.

Despite growing recognition of indoor air quality as a public health issue, significant gaps remain in policies, standards, and accessibility frameworks designed to protect people from indoor air pollution.

Research Objectives

The project was designed to:

Assess whether fragrance-free policies reduce airborne contaminants in office environments.
Identify building and environmental factors associated with indoor air quality.
Examine relationships between indoor air quality, policy implementation, and occupant experiences.
Document barriers to accessible indoor air and their impacts on health and participation.
Generate evidence to support accessibility standards and public policy development in Canada.

Research Methods

The study employed a national mixed-methods design that combined environmental monitoring with lived experience research.

Quantitative Component

34 office buildings tested
7 provinces represented
1,156 indoor air quality measurements
Comparison of workplaces with and without fragrance-free policies
Measurement of VOCs, PM₂.₅, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, temperature, and humidity
Building characteristics and policy implementation surveys

Qualitative Component

60 participants
10 focus groups
National recruitment
Examination of physical, attitudinal, informational, and systemic barriers related to indoor air quality and accessibility

Product Emission Testing

The project also evaluated fragranced consumer products and identified 190 VOCs emitted from tested products, with indoor air concentrations reaching up to 29,000 ng/mL.

Key Findings

The study found that fragrance-free policies are associated with measurable improvements in indoor air quality and represent an important accessibility tool.

Findings demonstrated that:

Indoor air pollution can function as an accessibility barrier.
Fragrance-free policies can reduce exposure to airborne contaminants.
Policy implementation and enforcement are critical to effectiveness.
Source control remains the most effective strategy for reducing indoor exposures.
Indoor air quality should be recognized as both a public health and accessibility issue.

Accessibility and Human Rights

The project contributes to a growing understanding that accessibility extends beyond physical barriers.

For many Canadians, access to clean indoor air is necessary for participation in employment, healthcare, education, housing, and community life. The findings support the integration of indoor air quality considerations into accessibility standards, disability inclusion initiatives, and human rights frameworks.

Impact and Recommendations

The project generated seven major recommendations for accessibility standards and public policy, including:

Enforceable fragrance-free requirements within accessibility standards.
Adoption of lowest-emission and least-toxic procurement practices.
Canadian VOC and TVOC exposure thresholds.
Full ingredient disclosure on consumer products.
Education and training for healthcare professionals, building managers, and employers.
Improved recognition and accommodation of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
Development of accessible housing standards that incorporate indoor air quality considerations.

Knowledge Mobilization

The project generated a national knowledge mobilization program including:

Four national webinars
A national conference: Indoor Air Quality: Bridging Science and Inclusion
Presentations to accessibility professionals, governments, universities, healthcare stakeholders, and national conferences
Educational resources and public engagement activities across Canada

We extend our sincere gratitude to our valued funder, collaborators, and consultants

Funders and partners:

We extend our sincere gratitude to our valued funder, collaborators, and consultants:

	Accessibility Standards Canada
	ARCH Disability Law Center
	Professor Arthur Chan PhD., Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto
	British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS)
	Associate Professor Caroline Barakat PhD, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University
	Confédération des organismes de personnes handicapées du Québec (COPHAN)
	Disability Without Poverty
	DisAbled Women’s Network (DAWN Canada)
	Environmental Health Association of Canada – L’Association pour la santé environnementale du Canada
	John Molot MD FCFP(LM), University of Ottawa
	Professor Jean-Phillippe Bellenger Laboratoire de Biogéochimie des milieux continentaux, Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke
	NB Lung
	Dr. Riina Bray BASc, MSc, MD, FCFP, MHSc Medical Director, Environmental Health Clinic at Women’s College Hospital
	Professor Sami Haddad Ph.D, Dept of Occupational and Environmental Health, Université de Montréal