scholarly journals Self-reported voice disorders of teachers and indoor air quality in schools: a cross-sectional study in Finland

Author(s):  
Hanna Vertanen-Greis ◽  
Eliisa Löyttyniemi ◽  
Jukka Uitti ◽  
Tuula Putus
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Y. Cardozo Becerra ◽  
L. G. Araque Muñoz

ResumenEstudio observacional de corte transversal realizado en tres edificios administrativos de la ciudad de Bogotá, los cuales evidencian presencia de bioaerosoles cultivables y contables, contaminantes que podrían afectar la calidad del aire interior. Los bioaerosoles encontrados fueron comunes en los tres edificios, y en los siguientes porcentajes, en su orden: Aspergillus sp.: 77,2% (61) de las muestras tomadas para el edifico uno, 91% (30) para el dos y 100% (19) para el tres, Penicillium sp.: 60,8% (48) de las muestras para el edificio uno, 87,9% (29) para el edificio dos y 94,7% (18) para el edificio tres. Otro género encontrado en porcentajes altos en los tres edificios fue el Cladosporium sp. Los hallazgos se correlacionan con lo reportado por la literatura. Se hace relevante el monitoreo de la calidad del aire interior y el mantenimiento adecuado de los edificios, especialmente de los sistemas de ventilación mecánica, para así disminuir el riesgo biológico para los habitantes de edificios administrativos y evitar que estas construcciones arquitectónicas sean clasificadas dentro del síndrome del edificio enfermo. AbstractAn observational cross-sectional study which reveals the presence of some air pollutants such as, cultivable and accounting bioaerosols, that can aect the indoor air quality of the three administrative buildings analyzed, located in Bogotá city. A cultivable and accounting bioaerosols similar high percentage was found in all the analyzed samples of the three buildings. Aspergillus sp. was detected in 77.2% (61 samples), 91% (30 samples) and 100% (19 samples) of the whole buildings samples, number one, two and three respectively. On the other hand Penicillium sp. was identify in 60.8% (48 samples), 87.9% (29 samples) and 94.7% (18 samples) for the buildings number one, two and three respectively. In addition to these pollutants, it was found Cladosporium sp. All the results are correlated with the reported literature values. Therefore it is relevant to monitor the indoor air quality and maintenance of the buildings, specially the mechanical ventilation systems, in order to diminish the inhabitants biological risk due to the pollutants, and to avoid that these constructions can be classified within the syndrome of the sick building.


Author(s):  
Raquel Rodrigues dos Santos ◽  
João Gregório ◽  
Liliana Castanheira ◽  
Ana S. Fernandes

Air quality and other environmental factors are gaining importance in public health policies. Some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been associated with asthma and symptoms of respiratory disease such as wheezing. The aim of this study was to measure the concentration of Total VOCs and assess their possible association with the occurrence of wheezing episodes in children under 36 months of age, in a region south of Lisbon, Portugal. A cross-sectional study was performed from October 2015 to March 2016. The sample of children under 36 months of age was selected by convenience, by inviting parents to take part in the study. A survey was applied to collect information on bedroom features, as well as to verify the occurrence of wheezing episodes. The indoor air quality parameters of bedrooms were measured using three 3M Quest® EVM-7 environmental monitors. In total, 34.4% of infants had had wheezing episodes since birth, with 86.7% of these presenting at least one episode in the previous 12 months. Total VOC levels were above the reference values in 48% of the analyzed bedrooms. No significant association of VOC exposure in a domestic setting with episodes of wheezing was found. However, children living in households with smokers were 4 times more likely to develop wheezing episodes. Thus, this study provides relevant information that warrants further studies to assess infant exposure to indoor air pollution and parental smoking in a residential context.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 618-625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nazan Önoğlu ◽  
Ayşe Emel Önal ◽  
Günay Güngör ◽  
Özkan Ayvaz ◽  
Sevda Özel

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the total mould and bacteria levels in the kindergartens in Istanbul City, Fatih District. Materials: This is a cross sectional study and was performed in 15 preschool institutions in Fatih district in May 2007. Methods: Merck Air Sampler Mas 100 was used for measurements. Results: The total amounts of bacteria grown in the stations measured (classroom, lunch room, kitchen and toilets) were as follows: 946.43 ± 1033.79 CFU·m−3 in the morning and 849.29 ± 594 CFU·m−3 in the afternoon. Total mould numbers were 489.64 ± 441.25 CFU·m−3 in the morning and 993.39 ± 1013.52 CFU·m−3 in the afternoon. Cladosporium spp. and Aspergillus spp. were found to be the most commonly reproduced mould species. The total mould levels were found to be higher in stations with aluminium window framing and floor carpeting. Furthermore, when compared in terms of total mould levels, there was no difference between concrete and brick buildings; and also, total bacteria count was higher in brick buildings during the morning measurements. Conclusion: For providing a better indoor air quality in kindergartens, natural ventilation, polyvinyl chloride windows, concrete building, minimum furniture and textile materials (sofas, cushions, curtains and kids’ clothing) are preferable.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Josiah L. Kephart ◽  
Magdalena Fandiño-Del-Rio ◽  
Kirsten Koehler ◽  
Antonio Bernabe-Ortiz ◽  
J. Jaime Miranda ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 645-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulken Tunga Babaoglu ◽  
Fikriye Milletli Sezgin ◽  
Funda Yag

This study assesses the interior air quality and infective factors in a hospital in Turkey to provide data about air quality to protect hospital workers. This study measured indoor air quality in eight different locations in a hospital, including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM1), carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, temperature, humidity and microbiological matter. The highest PM2.5 and PM1 concentrations were in emergency service, and the highest CO2 was measured in the paediatric clinic. The poor interior air quality results are the most important cross-sectional data. For all participants, the prevalence of eye, upper respiratory tract, lower respiratory tract, skin and non-specific sick building syndrome symptoms were 23.0%, 40.7%, 22.5%, 36.3% and 63.7%, respectively. When sick building syndrome symptoms and environmental factors were investigated, skin symptoms increased 1.82 times in areas with stagnant air flow (p = 0.046; OR = 1.823; 95% CI: 1.010–3.290). Non-specific symptoms increased 2.17 times in locations with dry indoor air (p = 0.039; OR = 2.176; 95% CI: 1.041–4.549). Hospital workers are exposed to conditions that may increase the risk of a variety of sick building syndrome symptoms. Although the air quality measurements were not above the recommended limits in the hospital, long-term exposures should be considered for those experiencing sick building syndrome-related symptoms.


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