Indoor Air Quality and Bioaerosols in Spanish University Classrooms
A comprehensive study assessed indoor air quality parameters, focusing on relevant air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub>), gaseous compounds (CO, CO<sub>2</sub>, formaldehyde, NO<sub>2</sub>) and volatile/semi-...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/3/227 |
| _version_ | 1797239169685127168 |
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| author | Esther Fuentes-Ferragud Antonio López Juan Miguel Piera Vicent Yusà Salvador Garrigues Miguel de la Guardia F. Xavier López Labrador Marisa Camaró María Ibáñez Clara Coscollà |
| author_facet | Esther Fuentes-Ferragud Antonio López Juan Miguel Piera Vicent Yusà Salvador Garrigues Miguel de la Guardia F. Xavier López Labrador Marisa Camaró María Ibáñez Clara Coscollà |
| author_sort | Esther Fuentes-Ferragud |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A comprehensive study assessed indoor air quality parameters, focusing on relevant air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub>), gaseous compounds (CO, CO<sub>2</sub>, formaldehyde, NO<sub>2</sub>) and volatile/semi-volatile organic chemicals, as well as respiratory viruses (including SARS-CoV-2), fungi and bacteria in Spanish university classrooms. Non-target screening strategies evaluated the presence of organic pollutants inside and outside the classrooms. Saliva samples from teachers and students were collected to explore correlations between respiratory viruses in the air and biological samples. Indoor results revealed the punctual exceedance of recommended guidelines for CO<sub>2</sub>, formaldehyde (HCHO), volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and PM in the least naturally ventilated classrooms. Significant differences occurred between the classes, with the least ventilated one showing higher average concentrations of CO<sub>2</sub>, HCHO, NO<sub>2</sub>, PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub>. A respiratory virus (rhinovirus/enterovirus) was detected in the medium naturally ventilated classroom, although saliva samples tested negative. Suspect screening tentatively identified 65 substances indoors and over 200 outdoors, with approximately half reporting a high toxicological risk based on the Cramer rules. The study provides a comprehensive overview of indoor air quality, respiratory viruses and organic pollutants in university classrooms, highlighting the variations and potential health risks associated with ventilation differences. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:47:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-70bcd62715dc460cbb1aab17a8cc0ee7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:47:16Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj.art-70bcd62715dc460cbb1aab17a8cc0ee72024-03-27T14:06:17ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-03-0112322710.3390/toxics12030227Indoor Air Quality and Bioaerosols in Spanish University ClassroomsEsther Fuentes-Ferragud0Antonio López1Juan Miguel Piera2Vicent Yusà3Salvador Garrigues4Miguel de la Guardia5F. Xavier López Labrador6Marisa Camaró7María Ibáñez8Clara Coscollà9Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencia Region, FISABIO-Public Health, 21, Avenida Catalunya, 46020 Valencia, SpainFoundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencia Region, FISABIO-Public Health, 21, Avenida Catalunya, 46020 Valencia, SpainFoundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencia Region, FISABIO-Public Health, 21, Avenida Catalunya, 46020 Valencia, SpainFoundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencia Region, FISABIO-Public Health, 21, Avenida Catalunya, 46020 Valencia, SpainAnalytical Chemistry Department, University of Valencia, Edifici Jeroni Muñoz, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, SpainAnalytical Chemistry Department, University of Valencia, Edifici Jeroni Muñoz, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, SpainFoundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencia Region, FISABIO-Public Health, 21, Avenida Catalunya, 46020 Valencia, SpainPublic Health Laboratory of Valencia, 21, Avenida Catalunya, 46020 Valencia, SpainEnvironmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, S/N, Avenida Sos Baynat, 12071 Castelló de la Plana, SpainFoundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencia Region, FISABIO-Public Health, 21, Avenida Catalunya, 46020 Valencia, SpainA comprehensive study assessed indoor air quality parameters, focusing on relevant air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub>), gaseous compounds (CO, CO<sub>2</sub>, formaldehyde, NO<sub>2</sub>) and volatile/semi-volatile organic chemicals, as well as respiratory viruses (including SARS-CoV-2), fungi and bacteria in Spanish university classrooms. Non-target screening strategies evaluated the presence of organic pollutants inside and outside the classrooms. Saliva samples from teachers and students were collected to explore correlations between respiratory viruses in the air and biological samples. Indoor results revealed the punctual exceedance of recommended guidelines for CO<sub>2</sub>, formaldehyde (HCHO), volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and PM in the least naturally ventilated classrooms. Significant differences occurred between the classes, with the least ventilated one showing higher average concentrations of CO<sub>2</sub>, HCHO, NO<sub>2</sub>, PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub>. A respiratory virus (rhinovirus/enterovirus) was detected in the medium naturally ventilated classroom, although saliva samples tested negative. Suspect screening tentatively identified 65 substances indoors and over 200 outdoors, with approximately half reporting a high toxicological risk based on the Cramer rules. The study provides a comprehensive overview of indoor air quality, respiratory viruses and organic pollutants in university classrooms, highlighting the variations and potential health risks associated with ventilation differences.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/3/227indoor air qualityclassroomsuniversityrespiratory virusessalivanon-target screening |
| spellingShingle | Esther Fuentes-Ferragud Antonio López Juan Miguel Piera Vicent Yusà Salvador Garrigues Miguel de la Guardia F. Xavier López Labrador Marisa Camaró María Ibáñez Clara Coscollà Indoor Air Quality and Bioaerosols in Spanish University Classrooms Toxics indoor air quality classrooms university respiratory viruses saliva non-target screening |
| title | Indoor Air Quality and Bioaerosols in Spanish University Classrooms |
| title_full | Indoor Air Quality and Bioaerosols in Spanish University Classrooms |
| title_fullStr | Indoor Air Quality and Bioaerosols in Spanish University Classrooms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Indoor Air Quality and Bioaerosols in Spanish University Classrooms |
| title_short | Indoor Air Quality and Bioaerosols in Spanish University Classrooms |
| title_sort | indoor air quality and bioaerosols in spanish university classrooms |
| topic | indoor air quality classrooms university respiratory viruses saliva non-target screening |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/3/227 |
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