Numerical Simulation of Indoor Air Pollution Levels in a Church and in a Museum in Greece

Abstract Using the Nazaroff and Cass model, indoor air pollutant concentrations were predicted inside two buildings which house valuable cultural properties. Both are located in the centre of Thessaloniki, Greece. One building is an eighth-century Byzantine church, Agia Sofia, which is naturally ventilated; the other is an exhibition hall at the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, with a conventional air-conditioning system. Model predictions were based on outdoor air pollutant concentration measurements, on meteorological data and on the design, use and operation of each building. The results, which cover a typical wintertime two-day period for each building, show that in these buildings, despite their differences, the indoor concentrations of air pollutants such as 03, NO, N02, HCHO, PAN and HN03 were generally higher than those recommended by most air quality standards. Changes in the ventilation of the buildings, to mitigate air pollution, are also discussed.