On-Site Monitoring Indoor Air Quality in Schools: A Real-World Investigation to Engage High School Science Students

Abstract

This article describes the on-site monitoring of indoor air quality (IAQ) in school classrooms and laboratories. The students were personally involved in the monitoring experience, by using low-cost IAQ sensors, and then in evaluation and interpretation of the measured values. The joint school–university project, which provides lessons, equipment, and support to high school classes, is a model of how to engage students in real-world science research and learning. The obtained results pointed out two alerts: unacceptable high levels of fine particle matter (PM2.5)mainly entered into indoor environments from highly polluted outdoor airand uncomfortably high CO2 levelsdue to classroom crowding and inadequate ventilation.

Indoor Air Quality in Domestic Environments during Periods Close to Italian COVID-19 Lockdown

“…The time series of the measured indoor VOCs levels are reported in detail in Supplementary Materials Figure S2a–c for the four investigated rooms during each campaign. The measured data are close to the upper end of the range of values reported in other European sites [ 17 , 18 , 39 ]. The presence of VOCs (such as formaldehyde, terpenes) has been found mainly associated with emission from building materials including carpet, plywood, paint, and also occupants’ activity involving the use of chemicals in daily housework and personal care and also with specific household activities, such as cooking or leisure [ 48 ].…”

“…The PM 2.5 values (7-9 µg m −3 ) measured in the May-June campaign were exceptionally low and homogeneous (inset of Supplementary Materials Figure S1b) in comparison with the levels commonly measured in spring/summer in the region [35][36][37][38][39]. This may be associated with the proximity of the study period to the end of the lockdown issued by the Italian government to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 infection.…”

“…Such values with a strong seasonality and pollution winter episodes have been frequently observed in the study region, as well as in the whole Po Valley. This trend has been related to the seasonal cycle of Planetary Boundary Layer dynamics, with stable conditions in winter, that promote the pollutants accumulation in the first hundred meters of the atmosphere and thus favor atmospheric reactions generating relevant concentrations of secondary PM [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. In addition, anthropogenic emission sources strengthen in fall/winter, with the increasing contribution of wood combustion for domestic heating, in addition to traffic and industry dominating sources.…”

“…For each monitoring day of the three campaigns, indoor temperature, relative humidity, as well as PM 2.5 , VOCs, and CO 2 concentrations were simultaneously monitored in the kitchen and bedroom of the two dwellings [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 39 ]. From the 24 h measured data, a whole daily value was computed, as well as separate values from daytime (from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.) and night (from 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.) hours.…”

The Impacts of Illegal Toxic Waste Dumping on Children’s Health: A Review and Case Study from Pasir Gudang, Malaysia

“…In addition, their lungs and brains are not fully developed, thus making them more susceptible to these pollutants. Crowded and enclosed areas such as classrooms also played significant roles that increased the risk of these children to be exposed to more pollutants compared to places like residential homes [ 70 ]. Aside from the above, children breath-in a higher concentration of pollutants due to their height, which is shorter compared to an ordinary adult, as some heavier pollutants are concentrated more and closer to the ground level [ 71 ].…”