[EN]Wood-burning pollution is a severe problem in southern Chile, where every winter, people
are exposed to unhealthy ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations. Urban air quality
is a major concern for health officials, but public awareness campaigns tend to focus on outdoor
hazards. Our understanding of how residents are exposed and perceive air pollution risks in their
homes remains incomplete. This study explores the ability of participants to perceive indoor air
quality. We collected data on 81 households, combining perceptions of air quality with objective
measurements of PM2.5. Residents’ evaluations of air quality were systematically compared to
inspectors’ evaluations in order to examine the home halo effect. We found that residents tended to
overestimate air quality in their homes. We discuss how our data supported the existence of a home
halo effect, but also point out the possibility that individuals’ ability to perceive air quality in indoor
spaces is limited by other factors.
