Indoor air quality in selected school buildings in the Central Sector of Athens at the Attica’s Region and potential Health Risks
Abstract
Aims and scope: Indoor air pollution is considered as an important environmental risk factor for health. Indoor air quality in schools is very important, as students and teachers spend most of their day (30%) indoors and consequently are more exposed to indoor pollution than outdoor air pollution. The present study has the aim to investigate the indoor air quality (IAQ) in school buildings in the Central Sector of Athens at the Attica’s Region and record physical parameters and concentration levels of indoor air pollutants that are associated with comfort, health and safety conditions inside the classrooms. Methods: The indoor air quality research was conducted in forty-seven (47) classrooms in a total of twenty-six (26) school buildings in the Central Sector of Athens at the Attica’s Region, during the period from March 2022 to May 2023. The air pollutants Carbon dioxide (CO2), Carbon monoxide (CO), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Particulate matters PM (PM10, PM2.5) and physical parameters such as temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) were monitored by the series 500 Portable Air Quality Monitor AeroQual, during (1) teaching hour per day in each classroom. During the samplings some windows and doors were opened, due to measures and recommendations for health and safety for students and teachers against COVID-19. Findings: The overall mean concentrations of the main parameters recorded inside the schools were 0,136 ppm CO, 823,38 ppm CO2, 12,07 ppm VOC’S, 0,006 ppm NO2, 38,1 μg/m3 PM10 and 15,4 μg/m3 PM2.5. The mean recorder temperature was 24,52 oC, and relative humidity was 45,78%. In this study a total number of twenty- two (22) classrooms (46,8%) of schools at the Attica’s Region had no comfort temperatures for students. In all cases indoor CO concentrations were below the 50 ppm, guideline set by WHO. Eight (8) of the forty-seven classrooms in the Region of Attica (17%) had a CO2 concentration more than 1000ppm. VOC’s exceeded the limit value of 0,8ppm indoors in all schools (100%). There was statistically difference for CO, CO2, ΝΟ2 (p<0,001), for VOC’s (p=0,004) and for PM10 (p=0,028) between indoor and ambient air. Conclusion: The indoor air quality of the classrooms was influenced by the outdoor air, the location of school, the number of windows that were opened during the lesson, the number of students inside the classroom, the activities, furnishing and school equipment. No comfort conditions in classrooms and exceeded limits of indoor air pollutants can lead to diminished IAQ and thereby harmful effects on students. A well airing of the classrooms during the lessons and breaks is necessary for a better air quality. Ventilation is one of the most important factors affecting indoor air quality, diluting the exposure agents originating from indoors.
Downloads
Metrics
References
2. Barck, C., Lundahl, J., Hallden, G., Bylin, G. (2005). Brief exprosures to NO2 augment the allergic inflammation in asthmatics, Environ. Res.97, 58-66.
3. Branis, M., Safranek, J. (2011). Characterization of coarse particulate matter in school gyms, Environ. Res. 111, 485-491.
4. Canha, N., Mandin, C., Ramalho, O., Wyart, G., Riberon, J., Dansoville, C. (2016). Assesment of ventilation and indoor air pollutants in nursery and elementary schools in France, Indoor Air 26, 350-365.
5. Daisey, J.M., Angell, W.J., Apte, M.J. (2003). Indoor air quality, ventilation and health symptoms in schools: an analysis of existing information, Indoor Air 13, 53-64.
6. Gall, E., Cheung, T., Luhung, I., Schiavon, S. &Nazaroff (2016). W.Real-time monitoring of personal exprosures to carbon dioxide. Build. Environ.104, 59-67.
7. Guo, H., Lee, S.C., Chan, L.Y., Li, W.M. (2004). Risk assessment of exposure to volatile organic compounds in different indoor environments, Environ. Res. 94, 57-66.
8. Hänninen, O., Asikainen A.(2013). Efficient reduction of indoor exposures. Health benefits from optimizing ventilation, filtration and indoor source controls. THL Report 2/2013. National Institute for Health and Welfare.
9. Heeboll, A., Wargocki, P., Toftum, J. (2018). Window and door opening behavior, carbon dioxide concentration, temperature and energy use during the heting season in classrooms with different ventilation retrofits-ASHRAE RP124, Sci. Technol. Built Environ. 24, 626-637.
10. Jacklitsch Brenda K.M, Jung-Hyun, K. (2016). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Occupational Exprosure to Heat and Hot environments https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2016-106
11. Jantunen, M., Oliveira Fernandes E., Carrer P., Kephalopoulos S.(2011). Promoting actions for healthy indoor air (IAIAQ). Luxembourg: European Comission Directorate General for Health and Consumers.
12. Jones, A.P. (1999). Indoor air quality and health. Atmos, Environ. 33, 4535-4564.
13. Kapalo, P., Meclarova, L., Vilcekova, S., Kridlova Burdova, E., Domnita, F., Bacotiu, C. (2019). Investigation of CO2 production depending on physical activity of students, Int. J. Environ. Health Res.29, 31-44.
14. Kleinman, M.T. (2000). The Health effects of air pollution on children, Dist.SCAQM (2000) 1-6.
15. Kleipis, N.E., Nelson, W.C., Ott,W.R., Robison, J.P., Tsang, A.M., Switzer. P., Behar, J.V., Hern, S.C., Engelmann, W.H. (2001). The national human activity pattern survey (nhaps): a resource for assessing exprosure to environmental pollutants. J.Expo, Analysis Environ. Epidemiol. 11,231-252.
16. Kumar, P., Imam, B. (2013). Footprints of air pollution and changing environment on the sustainability of built infrastructure. Sci. Total Environ., 444, 85–101.
17. Lee, C.W., Dai, Y.T., Chien, G.H., Hsu, D.J.(2006). Characteristics and health impacts of volatile organic compounds in photocopy centers. Environ. Res. 100, 139-149.
18. Mc Connell, R., Islam, T., Shankardass, K., Jerrett, M., Lurmann, F., Gilliland, F., Gauderman, J., Avol, E., Kunzli, N., Yao, L., Peters, J., Berhane, K. (2010). Childhood incident asthma and traffic-related air pollution at home and school. Environ. Health Persp.118, 1021-1026.
19. Mendell, M.J., Heath, G.A. (2005). Do indoor pollutants and thermal conditions in schools influence student performance? a critical review of the literature, Indoor Air 15, 27-52, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2004.00320.x.
20. Mendell, M.J. (2007). Indoor residential chemical emissions as risk factors for respiratory and allergic effects in children: a review, Indoor Air 17, 259-277, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2007.00478.x.
21. Molhave, L. (1990). Volatile Organic Compounds, indoor air quality and health. Indoor Air 1990:4:357-76.http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.1991.00001.x.
22. Santamouris, M., Michalakou, G., Patarias, P., Gaitani, N., Sfakianaki, K., Papagralstra, M.(2007). Using Intelligent clustering techniques to classify the energy performance of school buildings. Energy Build 2007;39:45-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2006.04.018
23. Schibuola, L., Scarpa, M., Tambani, C. (2018). CO2 based ventilation control in energy retrofit: an experimental assessment, Energy 143, 606-614.
24. Stabile, L., Buonanno, G., Frattolillo, A., DELL’ Isola, M. (2019). The effect of the ventilation retrofit in a school on CO2, airborne particles and energy consumptions, Build Environ. 156, 1-11.
25. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2012). Student Health and Academic Performance Quick Reference Guide. Available: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/quick-reference-guide-about-student-health-and-academic-performance
26. WHO (2000). Air Quality Guidelines for Europe, second ed.
27. Zuraimi, MS. (2010). Is ventilation duct cleaning useful? A review of the scientific evidence. Indoor Air, 20(6):445–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00672.x
Copyright (c) 2024 Maria Anna Bikaki, Georgios Dounias, Georgios Farantos, Olga Cavoura, Ioanna Damikouka, Lefkothea Evrenoglou
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
.jpg)
