scholarly journals Organic Air Quality Markers of Indoor and Outdoor PM2.5 Aerosols in Primary Schools from Barcelona

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 3685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barend L. van Drooge ◽  
Ioar Rivas ◽  
Xavier Querol ◽  
Jordi Sunyer ◽  
Joan O. Grimalt
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Airborne Particulate Matter ◽  
Traffic Emissions ◽  
Quality Markers ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Motorized Vehicles ◽  
Carbon Concentrations ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

Airborne particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 µg, PM2.5 was regularly sampled in classrooms (indoor) and playgrounds (outdoor) of primary schools from Barcelona. Three of these schools were located downtown and three in the periphery, representing areas with high and low traffic intensities. These aerosols were analyzed for organic molecular tracers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to identify the main sources of these airborne particles and evaluate the air quality in the urban location of the schools. Traffic emissions were the main contributors of PAHs to the atmospheres in all schools, with higher average concentrations in those located downtown (1800–2700 pg/m3) than in the periphery (760–1000 pg/m3). The similarity of the indoor and outdoor concentrations of the PAH is consistent with a transfer of outdoor traffic emissions to the indoor classrooms. This observation was supported by the hopane and elemental carbon concentrations in PM2.5, markers of motorized vehicles, that were correlated with PAHs. The concentrations of food-related markers, such as glucoses, sucrose, malic, azelaic and fatty acids, were correlated and were higher in the indoor atmospheres. These compounds were also correlated with plastic additives, such as phthalic acid and diisobutyl, dibutyl and dicyclohexyl phthalates. Clothing constituents, e.g., adipic acid, and fragrances, galaxolide and methyl dihydrojasmonate were also correlated with these indoor air compounds. All these organic tracers were correlated with the organic carbon of PM2.5, which was present in higher concentrations in the indoor than in the outdoor atmospheres.

scholarly journals Effects of Climatic Conditions, Season and Environmental Factors on CO2 Concentrations in Naturally Ventilated Primary Schools in Chile

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4139
Author(s):  
Muriel Diaz ◽  
Mario Cools ◽  
Maureen Trebilcock ◽  
Beatriz Piderit-Moreno ◽  
Shady Attia
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Co2 Concentration ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Co2 Concentrations ◽  
The Impact

Between the ages of 6 and 18, children spend between 30 and 42 h a week at school, mostly indoors, where indoor environmental quality is usually deficient and does not favor learning. The difficulty of delivering indoor air quality (IAQ) in learning facilities is related to high occupancy rates and low interaction levels with windows. In non-industrialized countries, as in the cases presented, most classrooms have no mechanical ventilation, due to energy poverty and lack of normative requirements. This fact heavily impacts the indoor air quality and students’ learning outcomes. The aim of the paper is to identify the factors that determine acceptable CO2 concentrations. Therefore, it studies air quality in free-running and naturally ventilated primary schools in Chile, aiming to identify the impact of contextual, occupant, and building design factors, using CO2 concentration as a proxy for IAQ. The monitoring of CO2, temperature, and humidity revealed that indoor air CO2 concentration is above 1400 ppm most of the time, with peaks of 5000 ppm during the day, especially in winter. The statistical analysis indicates that CO2 is dependent on climate, seasonality, and indoor temperature, while it is independent of outside temperature in heated classrooms. The odds of having acceptable concentrations of CO2 are bigger when indoor temperatures are high, and there is a need to ventilate for cooling.

scholarly journals Indoor Air Quality in Primary Schools

10.5772/17609 ◽  
2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria do Carmo Freitas ◽  
Nuno Canha ◽  
Maria Martinho ◽  
Marina Almeida-Silva ◽  
Susana Marta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Primary Schools

An Attempt to Improve Air Quality in Primary Schools

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Telejko ◽  
Ewa Zender-Swiercz
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Co2 Concentration ◽  
School Buildings ◽  
Maximum Value

Most primary school buildings in Poland rely on natural ventilation. This fact is attributed to the age of these buildings constructed more than dozen or even several tens of years ago. Few of them were fitted with a mechanical ventilation system allowing for the adjustment of microclimate parameters. The national requirements for gravity ventilation provide general guidelines, specifying strict description only for the airtightness of windows and doors and the minimum airflow to be supplied to the rooms. The minimum airflow supplied is independent of the number of occupants and purpose of the room. Low indoor air quality (IAQ) can impact occupants’ health and lead to poor productivity or low academic performance. Therefore the provision of good IAQ in classrooms and laboratories is very important. This paper presents the results of the investigation devoted to the quality of indoor air in classrooms of selected Polish primary school. Six primary school in a town with a population of 200 000 inhabitants were involved in the investigations. The participating school buildings were built between 1976 and 1994 and had gravity ventilation systems. The variability of basic IAQ parameters, i.e., temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide level, was analysed and the assessment of the classrooms in terms of microbiological purity was performed. The outcomes confirmed the low quality of the indoor air in these buildings. The maximum value of CO2 concentration amounted to more than 4000 ppm. Certain modifications aimed at improving IAQ were proposed during the investigations. Two solutions were implemented. The results of this study indicate that the proposed solution offers the potential to improve IAQ within classrooms.

Characterization of Bacteria and Fungi Bioaerosol in the Indoor Air of selected Primary Schools in Malaysia

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 607-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nor Husna Mat Hussin ◽  
Lye Munn Sann ◽  
Mariana Nor Shamsudin ◽  
Zailina Hashim
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Air ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Outdoor Air ◽  
Inadequate Ventilation ◽  
Bacillus Spp ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi ◽  
Staphylococcus Spp ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

This study reports the types and concentrations of bacterial and fungal bioaerosols found in five randomly selected primary schools in Malaysia. Normal flora bacteria was the most frequently isolated bacteria including Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. Terribacillus spp. found in this study had never been reported before. The most frequently isolated fungal genera were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Rhizopus and Zygomycetes. The average concentration of bacteria in indoor and outdoor air were 1025 ± 612 CFU/m3 and 1473 ± 1261 CFU/m3, respectively, while the average concentration of fungal bioaerosol in indoor and outdoor air were 292 ± 83 CFU/m3 and 401 ± 235 CFU/m3, respectively. The percentages of bacterial and fungal samples that were within the American Conference of Industrial Hygenists (ACGIH) recommended levels were 44% and 33.8%, respectively. The ratio of indoor to outdoor fungi concentration was below 1.0, suggesting minimal indoor generative source for fungal bioaerosols. However, the ratio of indoor to outdoor bacteria concentration was approaching 1.0, suggesting the presence of potential internal generative source and inadequate ventilation. Building occupants might be one of the potential sources of bacteria in the indoor air as the bacteria concentrations without occupants were significantly lower than with occupants (p < 0.05).

Comparative study on indoor air quality in Japan and China: Characteristics of residential indoor and outdoor VOCs

2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (40) ◽  
pp. 6352-6359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takeshi Ohura ◽  
Takashi Amagai ◽  
Xueyou Shen ◽  
Shuang Li ◽  
Ping Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor ◽  
Japan And China

Seasonal evaluation of outdoor/indoor air quality in primary schools in Lisbon

2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 657 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. N. Pegas ◽  
C. A. Alves ◽  
M. G. Evtyugina ◽  
T. Nunes ◽  
M. Cerqueira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Primary Schools

scholarly journals Indoor air quality and atopic sensitization in primary schools: A follow-up study

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 142-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Cavaleiro Rufo ◽  
Joana Madureira ◽  
Inês Paciência ◽  
Lívia Aguiar ◽  
João Paulo Teixeira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Atopic Sensitization ◽  
Follow Up Study

scholarly journals Exposure to Particles and Gases in a Shopping Mall: Spatial Heterogeneity and Outdoor Infiltration

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1313
Author(s):  
Alison Tan Yui Li ◽  
Wenwei Che ◽  
Yushan Song ◽  
Jimmy Chun Kung Tong ◽  
Alexis Kai Hon Lau
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Sampling Methods ◽  
Shopping Mall ◽  
Shopping Malls ◽  
Indoor Sources ◽  
Building Geometry ◽  
Indoor And Outdoor

Shopping malls in Hong Kong are usually located near major roads. Indoor air quality (IAQ) in these buildings is subject to infiltration of outdoor traffic-related pollutants, such as PM10, PM2.5, CO, and NO2. Furthermore, the existence of indoor sources and building geometry added to the complexity of variations in IAQ. To understand outdoor infiltration and spatial heterogeneity of these pollutants, we conducted fixed and cruise indoor sampling, together with simultaneous outdoor measurements, in a typical mall in Hong Kong. The cruise sampling was conducted indoors on a predesigned route and repeated 15 times. Outdoor infiltration was quantified based on regression analysis between indoor and outdoor sampling. Results showed that 75% of PM2.5, 53% of PM10, and 59% of NO2 were infiltrated into the mall during opening hours. Elevated PM2.5 and CO were observed during the dinner period, suggesting an impact from cooking. Substantial spatial variations were observed for PM10, PM2.5, and NO2, particularly at locations near entrances and restaurants. Measures are needed to reduce pollution intrusion from building openings and cooking-related sources to improve air quality in the selected mall. Fixed and cruise sampling methods used in this study provide insights on sensor deployment for future air quality monitoring in buildings.

scholarly journals KONDISI KUALITAS UDARA DI DALAM RUANGAN PEMUKIMANAN NON-KUMUH KOTA BANDUNG

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-245
Author(s):  
R.A Vesitara Kencanasari ◽  
Usep Surahman ◽  
Asep Yudi Permana ◽  
Hari Din Nugraha
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Sick Building Syndrome ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Normal Limits ◽  
Sick Building ◽  
Temperature Parameter ◽  
Motorized Vehicles

Abstract: This research was initiated by the factors of poor indoor air quality conditions. So that it can cause Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) or sick building syndrome. The purpose of this research is to measure the picture of air quality conditions in non-slum rooms. The sample in this study was Pasteur Village RW6, Sukajadi District which was selected based on criteria, namely including non-slum areas, as well as high community participation. The research method used was cross-sectional. The results showed an overview of indoor air quality in non-slum dwellings, humidity was above the required standard, thus triggering fungal growth rates that exceeded normal limits. The temperature parameter is in the required category, but based on the findings, some people are uncomfortable with the room temperature in the house. The Formadehilda and VOC parameters are within normal limits, this is indicated because most people do not use chemical products, rarely smoke in the house, and rarely start motorized vehicles in the house.Keywords: Indoor Air Quality, Sick Building Sindrome (SBS) Abstrak: Penelitian ini diawali oleh faktor kondisi kualitas udara di dalam ruangan yang buruk. Sehingga dapat menyebabkan terjadinya Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) atau sindrom bangunan sakit. Tujuan peneltian ini adalah untuk mengukur gambaran kondisi kualitas udara di dalam ruangan non kumuh. Sampel pada penelitian ini adalah Kelurahan Pasteur RW6, Kecamatan Sukajadi yang dipilih berdasarkan kriteria yaitu termasuk kawasan non kumuh, serta partisipasi masyarakat yang tinggi. Metode Penelitian yang digunakan adalah cross-sectional. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan gambaran kualitas udara di dalam ruangan pada rumah tinggal non kumuh, kelembaban berada di atas standar yang dipersyaratkan, sehingga memicu tingkat pertumbuhan jamur yang melampaui batas normal. Parameter suhu berada dalam kategori yang dipersyaratkan, namun berdasarkan hasil temuan sebagian masyarakat kurang nyaman dengan suhu ruang pada rumah tinggal. Parameter Formadehilda dan VOC berada pada batas normal, hal tersebut diindikasikan karena sebagian besar masyarakat tidak menggunakan produk-produk kimia, jarang melakukan aktivitas merokok di dalam rumah, serta jarang menghidupkan mesin kendaraan bermotor di dalam rumah. Kata Kunci: kualitas udara di dalam ruangan, Sick Building Sindrome (SBS)

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document