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Mary Ellen Gordian, MD, MPH

The effect of climatic inversions on outdoor air quality is well documented, but the effect of climatic inversions on the indoor air and on personal exposure to air pollution has not been well investigated. The degree to which indoor air and human health is affected by inversion conditions is very important to the state of Alaska, since it is likely that adults spend more than 95% of their time indoors during winter.

This study is designed to measure the effect of Arctic inversions on indoor air quality and personal exposure to air pollution. This information can help Alaskan policy makers determine a health protective strategy for dealing with urban air quality problems in Alaska. Natural resource development and urban development in Alaska need these baseline exposure studies and the data they provide for environmental impact studies.