Particulate matter and carbon dioxide in classrooms - the impact of cleaning and ventilation.

UNLABELLED The objective of the study was to measure the indoor air quality in classrooms with special emphasis on particulate matter (PM 10) and carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and the impact of cleaning and ventilation. MATERIAL AND METHOD PM 10 was analysed via gravimetric method and by laser beam technology. CO(2) was analysed by infrared sensors. Measurements were collected for 3 weeks; first week: "normal" cleaning (twice a week) and ventilation; second week: intensified cleaning (five times a week); third week: intensified cleaning and intensified ventilation. RESULTS Levels of PM 10 in the classrooms during the 3 weeks were 69+/-19microg/m(3) and they were dominated by occupancy and the persons' activity. Intensified cleaning showed a significant decrease in all classrooms (79+/-22 to 64+/-15microg/m(3)). The effect of ventilation on levels of PM10 was inconsistent - levels of CO(2) were very high in all schools and could be diminished by intensified ventilation (mean 1459 to 1051ppm). CONCLUSION Although further investigation is needed to study detailed characteristics of the PM 10 (size distribution, chemical identity) the data are sufficient to improve the cleaning and the ventilation in schools.

[1]  P. Scheff,et al.  Indoor air quality in a middle school, Part II: Development of emission factors for particulate matter and bioaerosols. , 2000, Applied occupational and environmental hygiene.

[2]  S C Lee,et al.  Indoor and outdoor air quality investigation at schools in Hong Kong. , 2000, Chemosphere.

[3]  H Rüden,et al.  Elemental carbon and respirable particulate matter in the indoor air of apartments and nursery schools and ambient air in Berlin (Germany). , 2005, Indoor air.

[4]  Yang-sheng Liu,et al.  Wintertime indoor air levels of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 at public places and their contributions to TSP. , 2004, Environment international.

[5]  J. Lodge.  Air quality guidelines for Europe: WHO regional publications, European series, No. 23, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland; WHO publications center USA, 49 Sheridan Avenue, Albany, NY 12210, 1987, xiii + 426 pp. price: Sw. fr. 60 , 1988 .

[6]  H Grams,et al.  Aufatmen in Schulen: Untersuchungsergebnisse und Modellierungsansätze zur Raumluftqualität in Schulen , 2003 .

[7]  G. O'Connor,et al.  Particle concentrations in inner-city homes of children with asthma: the effect of smoking, cooking, and outdoor pollution. , 2003, Environmental health perspectives.

[8]  Shuncheng Lee,et al.  Indoor and outdoor air quality investigation at 14 public places in Hong Kong , 1999 .

[9]  J C Chow,et al.  Indoor/outdoor relationships for PM2.5 and associated carbonaceous pollutants at residential homes in Hong Kong - case study. , 2005, Indoor air.

[10]  D G Shendell,et al.  Evidence of inadequate ventilation in portable classrooms: results of a pilot study in Los Angeles County. , 2004, Indoor air.

[11]  D Faulkner,et al.  Associations between classroom CO2 concentrations and student attendance in Washington and Idaho. , 2004, Indoor air.

[12]  L. Wallace,et al.  Indoor particles: a review. , 1996, Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association.

[13]  Cynthia Howard-Reed,et al.  Source strengths of ultrafine and fine particles due to cooking with a gas stove. , 2004, Environmental science & technology.

[14]  P A Scheff,et al.  Indoor air quality in a middle school, Part I: Use of CO2 as a tracer for effective ventilation. , 2000, Applied occupational and environmental hygiene.

[15]  G. Heath,et al.  Do indoor pollutants and thermal conditions in schools influence student performance? A critical review of the literature. , 2005, Indoor air.

[16]  Christine A Erdmann,et al.  Mucous membrane and lower respiratory building related symptoms in relation to indoor carbon dioxide concentrations in the 100-building BASE dataset. , 2004, Indoor air.

[17]  S C Lee,et al.  Indoor air quality investigations at five classrooms. , 1999, Indoor air.

[18]  S C Lee,et al.  Indoor air quality at nine shopping malls in Hong Kong. , 2001, The Science of the total environment.

[19]  O. Poupard,et al.  Relationship between outdoor and indoor air quality in eight French schools. , 2005, Indoor air.