Gender differences in indoor air quality perception are still controversial and geographic and climate variations can alter substantially the perceived indoor air quality. The aim of this study was to compare differences and analyze data on indoor air quality perception between genders in individuals living in the tropics. To address this question thirty-three subjects grouped by gender were exposed to 14, 18, 22 and 26 degrees Celsius (°C) – or, correspondingly, 57.2, 64.4, 71.6 and 78.8 degrees Fahrenheit (°F) – with a relative humidity of the indoor air of 65 ±7% in an experimental office environment. Results were obtained by a self-administered visual analogue scale questionnaire and analyzed using mean score comparisons and principal component analysis of indoor air perception. The results demonstrated that apart from colder temperatures far from thermoneutrality both groups showed no differences in indoor air quality scores and very close patterns of indoor air quality perception. This study suggests a role for other contributing factors as cultural and dressing habits as determinants to gender differences in indoor airquality perception concerning individuals living in tropical climate.

IAQ 2007 Conference held in Baltimore, Maryland, October 14-17, 2007

Units: Dual