Indoor air quality assessment in child care and medical facilities in Korea

Abstract

In order to characterize the status of indoor air pollution in some important facilities, a list of key criteria pollutants [particulate matter (PM(10)), carbon dioxide (CO(2)), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (HCHO), and bioaerosol] was measured from a total of 91 randomly selected sites in 18 different cities, Korea (February 2006 to December 2009). The target facilities include 43 child care facilities, 38 medical facilities, 6 elementary schools, and 4 postnatal care centers. The results showed that some air pollutants (e.g., CO and HCHO) did not exceed the recommended guideline [e.g., the Korean indoor air standard (KIAS) values of 10 ppm and 100 ppb, respectively]. However, concentration of PM(10), CO(2), and bioaerosol occasionally exceeded their respective guidelines (e.g., seven, three, and two cases). Discrete seasonalities were observed from indoor pollutants because of varying ventilation practice (e.g., summer time dominance of PM(10), HCHO, and bioaerosol or winter dominance of CO(2) and CO). However, as the concentrations of the indoor pollutants were scarcely above the recommended guideline level, more diversified approaches are desirable to diagnose the status of indoor pollution and to provide a realistic strategy for the improvement of IAQ.

Chemical Characterization of the Indoor Air Quality of a University Hospital: Penetration of Outdoor Air Pollutants

“…These effects are often related to changes in ventilation and air exchange patterns dependent on seasonal changes [6,25]. We do not expect that season has much influence on the results of our study because of centralized air treatment and conditioning and the absence of facilities for natural ventilation.…”

“…As shown in Table S6, in our study, naphthalene was confirmed at the source but not detected in the ORs before or during/after starting the power supply engines. Most of these substances have known indoor sources and were previously reported in indoor hospital environments [6,20,21,22,25]. However, naphthalene is a gas-phase constituent of combustion processes not likely found in an indoor environment devoid of open fire or other combustion source.…”

Exposure to Indoor Pollutants and Wheeze and Asthma Development during Early Childhood

“…In addition, the majority of the studies used passive samplers for the exposure of interest, which have been found to underestimate the levels of weak sorbents such as benzene [ 69 ]. Furthermore, previous studies failed to assess seasonal trends which are known to act as an important factor for IAP levels with higher winter levels for PM and CO 2 and exhibited higher concentration in warmer seasons for formaldehyde and bioaerosol [ 70 , 71 ]. Moreover, existing studies failed to take into consideration other important factors including ventilation, cleaning condition, cultural habits, outdoor pollution and climate which may alter indoor levels of exposure [ 71 ].…”

Mitigation of Hospital Acquired Infections in Developing Countries through the Provision of a Better IAQ

“…IAQ is a significant problem in the healthcare sector where air quality is likely to be a major risk factor for both staff and patients who visit the facility (Krajewska et al [20]). There are various pollutants in buildings which include CO2, CO, NO2, O3, HCHO, TVOC, respirable suspended particulates, radon and bacteria (Kabir et al [19] and [28]). These can adversely affect our health ranging from the sick building syndrome to Building Related Illnesses (BRI) such as pneumonitis and cancer at various degrees of severity.…”