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

Author

Listed:
  • Paul T. J. Scheepers

    (Research Lab Molecular Epidemiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboudumc, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

  • Luuk Van Wel

    (Research Lab Molecular Epidemiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboudumc, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
    Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Gwendolyn Beckmann

    (Research Lab Molecular Epidemiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboudumc, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

  • Rob B. M. Anzion

    (Research Lab Molecular Epidemiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboudumc, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

Abstract

For healthcare centers, local outdoor sources of air pollution represent a potential threat to indoor air quality (IAQ). The aim of this study was to study the impact of local outdoor sources of air pollution on the IAQ of a university hospital. IAQ was characterized at thirteen indoor and two outdoor locations and source samples were collected from a helicopter and an emergency power supply. Volatile organic compounds (VOC), acrolein, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), respirable particulate matter (PM-4.0 and PM-2.5) and their respective benz(a)pyrene contents were determined over a period of two weeks. Time-weighted average concentrations of NO 2 (4.9–17.4 μg/m 3 ) and formaldehyde (2.5–6.4 μg/m 3 ) were similar on all indoor and outdoor locations. The median concentration VOC in indoor air was 119 μg/m 3 (range: 33.1–2450 μg/m 3 ) and was fivefold higher in laboratories (316 μg/m 3 ) compared to offices (57.0 μg/m 3 ). PM-4.0 and benzo(a)pyrene concentration were lower in buildings serviced by a >99.95% efficiency particle filter, compared to buildings using a standard 80–90% efficiency filter ( p < 0.01). No indications were found that support a significant contribution of known local sources such as fuels or combustion engines to any of the IAQ parameters measured in this study. Chemical IAQ was primarily driven by known indoor sources and activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul T. J. Scheepers & Luuk Van Wel & Gwendolyn Beckmann & Rob B. M. Anzion, 2017. "Chemical Characterization of the Indoor Air Quality of a University Hospital: Penetration of Outdoor Air Pollutants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:5:p:497-:d:97948
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Marco Gola & Gaetano Settimo & Stefano Capolongo, 2019. "Chemical Pollution in Healing Spaces: The Decalogue of the Best Practices for Adequate Indoor Air Quality in Inpatient Rooms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Paul T. J. Scheepers & Martien H. F. Graumans & Gwendolyn Beckmann & Maurice Van Dael & Rob B. M. Anzion & Maarten Melissen & Nicole Pinckaers & Luuk Van Wel & Laurie M. A. De Werdt & Vera Gelsing & A, 2018. "Changes in Work Practices for Safe Use of Formaldehyde in a University-Based Anatomy Teaching and Research Facility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-22, September.
    3. Stefano Dugheri & Nicola Mucci & Giovanni Cappelli & Alessandro Bonari & Giacomo Garzaro & Giorgio Marrubini & Gianluca Bartolucci & Marcello Campagna & Giulio Arcangeli, 2019. "Monitoring of Air-Dispersed Formaldehyde and Carbonyl Compounds as Vapors and Adsorbed on Particulate Matter by Denuder-Filter Sampling and Gas Chromatographic Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-17, June.
    4. Alessandra Cincinelli & Tania Martellini, 2017. "Indoor Air Quality and Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-5, October.
    5. Luis Sarmiento & Adam Nowakowski, 2023. "Court Decisions and Air Pollution: Evidence from Ten Million Penal Cases in India," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 86(3), pages 605-644, November.

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