6533b85cfe1ef96bd12bd57e
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Indoor air quality in schools of a highly polluted south Mediterranean area
Silvia RuggieriValeria LongoCinzia PerrinoSilvia CanepariGaspare DragoLuca L'abbateMartin BalzanGiuseppina CuttittaGianluca ScaccianoceRemo MinardiGiovanni ViegiFabio CibellaDavid BiloccaCharles BorgStephen R. MontefortChristopher ZammitSalvatore BucchieriPaolo ColomboGiuliana FerranteStefania La GruttaMario Raphael MelisGiuseppe PivaRosaria RistagnoGianfranco RizzoRespira Project Groupsubject
Der p 1Rural PopulationendotoxinEnvironmental EngineeringPM010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciencesThreshold limit valueair pollutionNitrogen DioxideAir pollutionPM2.5010501 environmental sciencesmedicine.disease_causecomplex mixtures01 natural sciencesindoor comfort parametersIndoor air qualityindoor comfort parameterMetals HeavymedicineHumansMass concentration (chemistry)Relative humidityParticle Sizeheavy metalsSicily0105 earth and related environmental sciencesPollutantAir PollutantsCarbon MonoxideElemental compositionSettore ING-IND/11 - Fisica Tecnica AmbientaleSchoolsMediterranean RegionTemperaturePublic Health Environmental and Occupational HealthDustHumidityBuilding and Constructionheavy metalVentilation2.5Air Pollution IndoorEnvironmental chemistryEnvironmental scienceMediterranean areaParticulate MatterEnvironmental Monitoringdescription
This study aimed at surveying lower secondary schools in southern Italy, in a highly polluted area. A community close to an industrial area and three villages in rural areas was investigated. Indoor temperature, relative humidity (RH), gaseous pollutants (CO 2 and NO 2 ), selected biological pollutants in indoor dust, and the indoor/outdoor mass concentration and elemental composition of PM 2.5 were ascertained. Temperature and RH were within, or close to, the comfort range, while CO 2 frequently exceeded the threshold of 1000 ppm, indicating inadequate air exchange rate. In all the classrooms, median NO 2 levels were above the WHO threshold value. Dermatophagoides p. allergen concentration was below the sensitizing threshold, while high endotoxin levels were detected in the classrooms, suggesting schools may produce significant risks of endotoxin exposure. Concentration and solubility of PM 2.5 elements were used to identify the sources of indoor particles. Indoor concentration of most elements was higher than outdoors. Resuspension was responsible for the indoor increase in soil components. For elements from industrial emission (Cd, Co, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl, V), the indoor concentration depended on penetration from the outside. For these elements, differences in rural vs industrial concentrations were found, suggesting industrial sources may influence indoor air quality nearby schools.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-01-01 | Indoor Air |