Halifax Indoor Air Quality Study XRF Metals Dataset

In 2009, Health Canada collaborated with Dalhousie University to undertake an indoor air quality study in homes in Halifax, NS. The objective of this study was to better understand the influence of housing characteristics and occupant activities on indoor air contaminants in the Atlantic Provinces. Residential indoor and outdoor exposures were assessed over a period of 10 days, with 5 sampling days each in winter and summer. In total, there were 50 participants in winter and 50 in summer, with 42 participating in both seasons. There were 9 sampling periods per season, with 6 homes measured concurrently per week. All participants in this study resided in non-smoking, detached homes. Among the different pollutants measured, 33 elemental components of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) were analyzed in samples collected over 24 hours using X-ray fluorescence method. This dataset presents the descriptive statistics obtained as part of this study and is intended to provide relevant Canadian information on exposure to metals found indoors and outdoors within non-smoking residences. The dataset does not provide any interpretation or detailed analysis of the data or trends (e.g., comparing seasons, indoor/outdoor concentrations).