Indoor gas emission assessment in public schools in Perlis

Abstract

Indoor gas emission has been a matter of public concern. People mostly spend their time in the indoor environment, especially children, therefore more exposed to indoor air pollution. The primary objective of this study is to determine the exposure level of the pollutant and evaluate the potential adverse effects on students at schools in indoor settings. Three schools were randomly selected in Kangar and Arau areas. The methods applied in the study involved the measurement of pollutants, questionnaire and health risk assessment. The monitoring was conducted in each school’s classroom, library, and science lab. Concentrations of the indoor and outdoor air pollutants (e.g. CO, CO2, SO2, NO2, and VOCs) were collected. From the sampling results, the average indoor pollutant concentrations in all selected schools were 0.39, 484, 0.002, 0.046 and 0.04 ppm, respectively. The average CO, CO2, SO2, NO2 and VOCs concentrations in the outdoor environment are 1.11, 442, 0.03, 0.019 and 0.03 ppm. All of the pollutant concentrations do not exceed the standard limit and guidelines. From health risk assessment, it can be concluded that potential health risk for human exposure to CO was low birth weight, auditory system, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma symptom, and respiratory responses.