Indoor air quality and thermal comfort in elderly care centers

Abstract

This study explored environmental variables and buildings characteristics in 22 elderly care centers (ECCs) in Portugal. Indoor environmental parameters were measured twice for a total of 141 sampling sites. Each site was assessed for PM 10 , PM 2.5 , total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde, CO, CO 2 , total bacteria and fungi. Thermal comfort (TC) parameters were measured according to ISO 7730:2005 and a building characterization was performed. The overall PM 2.5 mean concentration of the 22 ECC was above international reference levels in summer and winter seasons. TVOC, bacteria, CO and CO 2 showed significantly higher indoor levels compared to outdoor, in both seasons. Indoor PM 10 , TVOC, bacteria and CO 2 present significant differences between seasons. TVOC, bacteria and CO 2 show significant variation between ECC rooms and 4% of fungi samples were positive for pathogenic Aspergillus species. The winter predicted mean vote (PMV) index showed a 'slightly cool' thermal sensation scale which may potentiate respiratory tract infections. The predicted percent of dissatisfied people (PPD) and PMV indices show significant differences by season. The building variables 'Insulation', 'Heating Ventilation' and 'Windows frames' were significantly associated to chemical, biological and TC parameters. 'Bacteria', 'Fungi', 'Temperature', Relative Humidity', and 'PPD index' are the mostly affected by building characteristics. Insulating ceilings, walls, and

Assessing Indoor Air Quality Using Chemometric Models

“…The standard breathable level (1.0-1.5 m) of 8 hours of sampling time [4] was used for monitoring all locations. The sampling was measured using such equipment as a portable Turnkey Instruments dust mate detector (for total suspended particulate (TSP), PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1.0 ) and a 3M Quest EVM series gas meter for carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), relative humidity (RH), and temperature (T).…”

“…From both these types of particles, PM 2.5 can penetrate deep into the lung tissue and may result in reduced lung function in children and adults. As a result, diseases such as pneumonia, shortness of breath, poor cardiovascular effects and elevated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [4][5] can occurr. Exposure to this pollutant can give oxidative stress to human DNA [5][6].…”

“…Previous researchers have proven that the distribution of indoor air pollutants will vary from one building to another depending on the ventilation system [4,[13][14].…”

Avaliação Quanti-Qualitativa do Ar Interior de Uma Biblioteca Pública do Município de Cuiabá-MT

“…Segundo Lacaz et al (2002), no Brasil, de maneira geral, nos períodos de outono e inverno, há maior incidência de fungos, sendo os gêneros mais frequentemente detectados Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Curvularia, Rhizopus, Helminthosporium, Trichoderma, Fusarium, Candida, Aureobasidium, Rhodotorula. Neste estudo foram isolados diferentes gêneros fúngicos, no entanto foram selecionados apenas osgêneros Aspergillussp e Penicillium sp. Pelo método de sedimentação espontânea pode-se observar na Tabela 6, que na soma de todos os meses de coleta, no ponto P1 foram isoladas 23 colônias fúngicas distintas, sendo destas 39,13% de Aspergillussp.…”

“…Segundo Mendes et al (2015) micropartículas com diâmetro menor 2,5 µm podem penetrar profundamente no tecido pulmonar ocasionando redução na função do pulmão, inflamação dos alvéolos pulmonares, doenças respiratórias diversas, efeitos cardiovasculares adversos, aumento da prevalência de Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crónica, e causar o stress oxidativo do DNA. Por outro lado, de modo geral, as principais doenças associadas a presença de microrganismos são o Mal dos Legionários; a febre do umidificador (doença que se desenvolve a partir de exposições a toxinas de microrganismos, especialmente daqueles que crescem nos sistemas de ventilação dos edifícios); asma brônquica; pneumonite alérgica ou alveolite extrínseca; e pneumonia (SCHIRMER et al 2011).…”