Reviewing how bedroom ventilation affects IAQ and sleep quality

Good sleep is essential for our health and daytime functioning; seven to nine hours of sleep each night are recommended for people age 18 to 64.(1,2) Noise, light, temperature and air quality affect our sleep. However, very few regulations address indoor air quality (IAQ) in bedrooms, and even fewer studies examine the relationship between sleep quality, ventilation and IAQ(3) This column reviews 10 studies reported in nine publications(4)(-1)(2) that examined whether providing clean air to a sleeping person will result in improved sleep quality. The column also provides information on the expected effects on sleep when bedroom ventilation and IAQ are inadequate.