Abstract Body

Wood-burning pollution is a severe problem in southern Chile, where every winter, people are exposed to adverse weather conditions and unhealthy ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) concentrations. Chilean southern cities are characterized by having low temperatures during winter months, regularly dropping below 0 ºC in addition with windy and rainy periods in between. These climatic conditions generate a strong need for heating among their inhabitants, which is primarily covered by firewood.Urban air quality is a major concern for health and environmental authorities, but public awareness campaigns tend to focus on outdoor hazards. Therefore, our understanding of how residents are exposed and perceive air pollution risks and temperature in their homes remains incomplete. This study explores the ability of participants to perceive indoor air quality and temperature. We collected data on 81 households, combining perceptions of air quality with objective measurements of PM_2.5 and ºC through indoor air quality sensors. Also, residents’ evaluations of indoor air quality and temperature were systematically compared to external inspectors’ evaluations in order to examine the home halo effect. The results of this study show that residents tended to overestimate indoor air quality and temperature in their homes in comparison with objetive data and external inspectors. We discuss how our data supported the existence of a home halo effect, but also point out the possibility that individuals’ ability to perceive indoor air quality and temperature spaces is limited by other factors, such as sensory capacity, habituation, media coverage, among others.