Air Quality Program

Special Studies

In 1996, Anchorage conducted a study of indoor air quality (pdf 206kb) in 137 homes. Concentrations of benzene and other volatile organic products (VOCs) in Anchorage homes were 2 to 50 times higher than those out of doors and significantly higher than concentrations measured in similar studies conducted in US, Canada, and Europe. Anchorage observed a strong association between indoor VOC concentrations and attached garages. This study is available through the link on the left.

The Municipality of Anchorage and the University of Washington collaborated on a subsequent project to measure and contrast levels of selected air toxic compounds in Anchorage and Seattle homes. Phase 1 of the project was designed to assess the influence of attached garages on air toxics levels inside 50 Anchorage homes sampled over the winter of 2003-2004.

Phase 2, to be conducted over the winters of 2006/2007 and 2007/2008, will investigate whether there is an association between asthma and the concentration of VOCs in Anchorage homes. This research is being conducted under contract by Mary Ellen Gordian, M.D., of the Institute for Circumpolar Health at the University of Alaska Anchorage .

House with tuck-under garage - Anchorage, Alaska