{"id":8359,"date":"2023-07-05T12:44:52","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T16:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/?page_id=8359"},"modified":"2026-06-01T14:15:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T18:15:25","slug":"accessible-air-in-the-built-environment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/accessible-air-in-the-built-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Accessible Indoor Air in the Built Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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About the Project<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Webinars<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Conference<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Executive Summary & Report<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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2023-2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This project has been funded in part by Accessibility Standards Canada, Government of Canada, with ethics approval from the Women\u2019s College Hospital, Toronto<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Project Summary<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Accessible Air in the Built Environment<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project at a Glance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

34<\/strong> Buildings Tested
7<\/strong> Provinces Represented
1,156<\/strong> Indoor Air Quality Measurements
60<\/strong> Participants
190<\/strong> VOCs Identified<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why This Research Matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research Objectives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The project was designed to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

    Research Methods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The study employed a national mixed-methods design that combined environmental monitoring with lived experience research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Quantitative Component<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    • 34 office buildings tested<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • 7 provinces represented<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • 1,156 indoor air quality measurements<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Comparison of workplaces with and without fragrance-free policies<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Measurement of VOCs, PM\u2082.\u2085, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, temperature, and humidity<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Building characteristics and policy implementation surveys<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Qualitative Component<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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      • 60 participants<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • 10 focus groups<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • National recruitment<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Examination of physical, attitudinal, informational, and systemic barriers related to indoor air quality and accessibility<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Product Emission Testing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Key Findings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

        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:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

          Accessibility and Human Rights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Impact and Recommendations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          The project generated seven major recommendations for accessibility standards and public policy, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

            Knowledge Mobilization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            The project generated a national knowledge mobilization program including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            • Four national webinars<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • A national conference: Indoor Air Quality: Bridging Science and Inclusion<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Presentations to accessibility professionals, governments, universities, healthcare stakeholders, and national conferences<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Educational resources and public engagement activities across Canada<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              We extend our sincere gratitude to our valued funder, collaborators, and consultants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              Funders and partners:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

              We extend our sincere gratitude to our valued funder, collaborators, and consultants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              \"\"<\/td>Accessibility Standards Canada<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
              \"\"<\/td>ARCH Disability Law Center<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
              \"\"<\/td>Professor Arthur Chan<\/strong> PhD., Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
              \"\"<\/td>British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
              \"\"<\/td>Associate Professor Caroline Barakat<\/strong> PhD, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
              \"\"<\/td>Conf\u00e9d\u00e9ration des organismes de personnes handicap\u00e9es du Qu\u00e9bec (COPHAN)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
              \"\"<\/td>Disability Without Poverty<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
              \"\"<\/td>DisAbled Women\u2019s Network (DAWN Canada)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
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              <\/td>              		Environmental Health Association of Canada \u2013 L\u2019Association pour la sant\u00e9 environnementale du Canada<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
              \"\"<\/td>John Molot<\/strong> MD FCFP(LM), University of Ottawa<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
              \"\"<\/td>Professor Jean-Phillippe Bellenger<\/strong> Laboratoire de Biog\u00e9ochimie des milieux continentaux, D\u00e9partement de Chimie, Facult\u00e9 des Sciences, Universit\u00e9 de Sherbrooke<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
              \"\"<\/td>NB Lung<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
              \"\"<\/td>Dr. Riina Bray<\/strong> BASc, MSc, MD, FCFP, MHSc Medical Director, Environmental Health Clinic at Women\u2019s College Hospital<\/em><\/td><\/tr>
              \"\"<\/td>Professor Sami Haddad<\/strong> Ph.D, Dept of Occupational and Environmental Health, Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al<\/em><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

              <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              About the Project Webinars Conference Videos Executive Summary & Report 2023-2026 This project has been funded in part by Accessibility Standards Canada, Government of Canada, with ethics approval from the Women\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8359","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8359","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8359"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8359\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20278,"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8359\/revisions\/20278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}