Title: Indoor air quality in primary schools

Authors: Nuno Canha; Maria Martinho; Marina Almeida-Silva; Susana Marta Almeida; Priscilla Pegas; Célia Alves; Casimiro Pio; Maria Ascensão Trancoso; Rita Sousa; Filomena Mouro; Teresa Contreiras; Maria do Carmo Freitas

Addresses: URSN, IST/ITN, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Polo de Loures – Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, E.N. 10, 2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal ' Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, Two UN Plaza, DC2-2252, New York, NY 10017, USA ' URSN, IST/ITN, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Polo de Loures – Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, E.N. 10, 2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal ' URSN, IST/ITN, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Polo de Loures – Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, E.N. 10, 2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal ' Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies – CESAM, Department of Environment, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal ' Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies – CESAM, Department of Environment, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal ' Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies – CESAM, Department of Environment, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal ' Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, LNEG, UB, Laboratório de Biocombustíveis e Ambiente, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, Edifício E, 1649-038 Lisboa, Portugal ' Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, LNEG, UB, Laboratório de Biocombustíveis e Ambiente, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, Edifício E, 1649-038 Lisboa, Portugal ' Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, LNEG, UB, Laboratório de Biocombustíveis e Ambiente, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, Edifício E, 1649-038 Lisboa, Portugal ' Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr Ricardo Jorge/ONSA, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisboa, Portugal ' URSN, IST/ITN, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Polo de Loures – Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, E.N. 10, 2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal

Abstract: The indoor air quality (IAQ) in classrooms is expected to play a key role in the assessment of the effects of the children's personal exposure to air pollution since they spend on average 7-11 h per weekday at school. A statistical treatment was conducted over a database of indoor air parameters and the primary schools where these parameters were sampled (urban area of Lisbon, Portugal). The aim of this study was to assess the associations between indoor air parameters with the schools' building characteristics, through the use of statistical methods. Several associations were found and allow pointing out from this study several recommendations to improve the classrooms IAQ. For example, some factors such as ventilation, cleanings and chalk use instead whiteboard pens, can reduce or increase specific contaminants inside the classrooms.

Keywords: indoor air quality; IAQ; indoor air pollution; pollutants; primary schools; statistical treatment; building materials; environmental pollution; Portugal; classroom contaminants.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2012.051210

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2012 Vol.50 No.1/2/3/4, pp.396 - 410

Published online: 19 Nov 2014 *

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