Air Quality Assessment of a School in an Industrialized Area of Southern Italy
In this study, simultaneous monitoring of indoor and outdoor Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) was carried out in a school, by both Radiello<sup>®</sup> cartridges and real-time monitors (Corvus, IonScience Ltd., Fowlmere UK). Moreover, an outdoor air quality assessment was performed wit...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/19/8870 |
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| author | Pierina Ielpo Cristina Mangia Gianluigi de Gennaro Alessia Di Gilio Jolanda Palmisani Adelaide Dinoi Andrea Bergomi Valeria Comite Paola Fermo |
| author_facet | Pierina Ielpo Cristina Mangia Gianluigi de Gennaro Alessia Di Gilio Jolanda Palmisani Adelaide Dinoi Andrea Bergomi Valeria Comite Paola Fermo |
| author_sort | Pierina Ielpo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study, simultaneous monitoring of indoor and outdoor Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) was carried out in a school, by both Radiello<sup>®</sup> cartridges and real-time monitors (Corvus, IonScience Ltd., Fowlmere UK). Moreover, an outdoor air quality assessment was performed with data from an air quality monitoring station (ARPA Puglia) located close to the school. In particular, VOCs, Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xilenes concentrations, obtained by using Radiello<sup>®</sup> diffusive samplers, were monitored in two classrooms, two bathrooms, and outside of the school building for three weeks during winter 2019. Simultaneously, the Total VOC (TVOC) concentrations were measured by means of real-time monitors inside and outside the classroom in order to individuate the activation of sources during the sampling campaign days. The results evidence that indoor TVOC concentrations were bigger than those outdoors; this suggests the presence of indoor pollutant sources, both in the classrooms and the bathrooms. The results of our study can help the school management by the following recommendations: increasing ventilation in classrooms during school activities and after cleaning; involving students in discussions regarding the use of acrylic paints, permanent markers, perfumes and deodorants, and the limitation of smoking activities both in bathrooms and outdoor spaces. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:06:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2c6a7addeaec4aec88c99ef2d971761b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:06:27Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-2c6a7addeaec4aec88c99ef2d971761b2023-11-22T15:44:13ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-09-011119887010.3390/app11198870Air Quality Assessment of a School in an Industrialized Area of Southern ItalyPierina Ielpo0Cristina Mangia1Gianluigi de Gennaro2Alessia Di Gilio3Jolanda Palmisani4Adelaide Dinoi5Andrea Bergomi6Valeria Comite7Paola Fermo8CNR ISAC Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, National Research Council, 73100 Lecce, ItalyCNR ISAC Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, National Research Council, 73100 Lecce, ItalyBiology Department, Bari University, 70126 Bari, ItalyBiology Department, Bari University, 70126 Bari, ItalyBiology Department, Bari University, 70126 Bari, ItalyCNR ISAC Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, National Research Council, 73100 Lecce, ItalyChemistry Department, Milan University, 20133 Milan, ItalyChemistry Department, Milan University, 20133 Milan, ItalyChemistry Department, Milan University, 20133 Milan, ItalyIn this study, simultaneous monitoring of indoor and outdoor Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) was carried out in a school, by both Radiello<sup>®</sup> cartridges and real-time monitors (Corvus, IonScience Ltd., Fowlmere UK). Moreover, an outdoor air quality assessment was performed with data from an air quality monitoring station (ARPA Puglia) located close to the school. In particular, VOCs, Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xilenes concentrations, obtained by using Radiello<sup>®</sup> diffusive samplers, were monitored in two classrooms, two bathrooms, and outside of the school building for three weeks during winter 2019. Simultaneously, the Total VOC (TVOC) concentrations were measured by means of real-time monitors inside and outside the classroom in order to individuate the activation of sources during the sampling campaign days. The results evidence that indoor TVOC concentrations were bigger than those outdoors; this suggests the presence of indoor pollutant sources, both in the classrooms and the bathrooms. The results of our study can help the school management by the following recommendations: increasing ventilation in classrooms during school activities and after cleaning; involving students in discussions regarding the use of acrylic paints, permanent markers, perfumes and deodorants, and the limitation of smoking activities both in bathrooms and outdoor spaces.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/19/8870volatile organic compound (VOC)indoor air qualityoutdoor air qualityair quality monitoring station |
| spellingShingle | Pierina Ielpo Cristina Mangia Gianluigi de Gennaro Alessia Di Gilio Jolanda Palmisani Adelaide Dinoi Andrea Bergomi Valeria Comite Paola Fermo Air Quality Assessment of a School in an Industrialized Area of Southern Italy Applied Sciences volatile organic compound (VOC) indoor air quality outdoor air quality air quality monitoring station |
| title | Air Quality Assessment of a School in an Industrialized Area of Southern Italy |
| title_full | Air Quality Assessment of a School in an Industrialized Area of Southern Italy |
| title_fullStr | Air Quality Assessment of a School in an Industrialized Area of Southern Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Air Quality Assessment of a School in an Industrialized Area of Southern Italy |
| title_short | Air Quality Assessment of a School in an Industrialized Area of Southern Italy |
| title_sort | air quality assessment of a school in an industrialized area of southern italy |
| topic | volatile organic compound (VOC) indoor air quality outdoor air quality air quality monitoring station |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/19/8870 |
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