Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare and Care Facilities: Chemical Pollutants and Microbiological Contaminants
The indoor air quality of healthcare and care facilities is poorly studied. The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the chemical pollution and the microbiological contaminations of the indoor environment of these facilities. Methods: A wide range of chemical compounds...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/10/1337 |
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| author | Alexandre Baudet Estelle Baurès Hélène Guegan Olivier Blanchard Monique Guillaso Pierre Le Cann Jean-Pierre Gangneux Arnaud Florentin |
| author_facet | Alexandre Baudet Estelle Baurès Hélène Guegan Olivier Blanchard Monique Guillaso Pierre Le Cann Jean-Pierre Gangneux Arnaud Florentin |
| author_sort | Alexandre Baudet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The indoor air quality of healthcare and care facilities is poorly studied. The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the chemical pollution and the microbiological contaminations of the indoor environment of these facilities. Methods: A wide range of chemical compounds (39 volatile and 13 semi-volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide, fine particulate matter) and microorganisms (fungi and bacteria) were studied. Sampling campaigns were conducted in two French cities in summer 2018 and winter 2019 in six private healthcare facilities (general practitioner’s offices, dental offices, pharmacies) and four care facilities (nursing homes). Results: The highest median concentrations of chemical compounds (μg/m<sup>3</sup>) were measured for alcohols (ethanol: 378.9 and isopropanol: 23.6), ketones (acetone: 18.8), aldehydes (formaldehyde: 11.4 and acetaldehyde: 6.5) and terpenes (limonene: 4.3). The median concentration of PM<sub>2.5</sub> was 9.0 µg/m<sup>3</sup>. The main bacteria of these indoor environments were <i>Staphylococcus</i>, <i>Micrococcus</i> and <i>Bacillus</i> genera, with median bacterial concentrations in the indoor air of 14 cfu/m<sup>3</sup>. The two major fungal genera were <i>Cladosporium</i> and <i>Penicillium</i>, with median fungal concentrations of 7 cfu/m<sup>3</sup>. Conclusions: Indoor air in healthcare and care facilities contains a complex mixture of many pollutants found in higher concentrations compared to the indoor air in French hospitals in a previous study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:43:51Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:43:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-dcb5ce14dbf3433baaa6b423bc7fd9602023-11-22T17:26:02ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332021-10-011210133710.3390/atmos12101337Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare and Care Facilities: Chemical Pollutants and Microbiological ContaminantsAlexandre Baudet0Estelle Baurès1Hélène Guegan2Olivier Blanchard3Monique Guillaso4Pierre Le Cann5Jean-Pierre Gangneux6Arnaud Florentin7Département d’Hygiène, des Risques Environnementaux et Associés aux Soins, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lorraine, F-54000 Lorraine, FranceEHESP School of Public Health, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)—UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes, F-35000 Rennes, FranceEHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)—UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes, F-35000 Rennes, FranceEHESP School of Public Health, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)—UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes, F-35000 Rennes, FranceDépartement d’Hygiène, des Risques Environnementaux et Associés aux Soins, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lorraine, F-54000 Lorraine, FranceEHESP School of Public Health, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)—UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes, F-35000 Rennes, FranceEHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)—UMR_S 1085, Université de Rennes, F-35000 Rennes, FranceDépartement d’Hygiène, des Risques Environnementaux et Associés aux Soins, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Lorraine, F-54000 Lorraine, FranceThe indoor air quality of healthcare and care facilities is poorly studied. The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the chemical pollution and the microbiological contaminations of the indoor environment of these facilities. Methods: A wide range of chemical compounds (39 volatile and 13 semi-volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide, fine particulate matter) and microorganisms (fungi and bacteria) were studied. Sampling campaigns were conducted in two French cities in summer 2018 and winter 2019 in six private healthcare facilities (general practitioner’s offices, dental offices, pharmacies) and four care facilities (nursing homes). Results: The highest median concentrations of chemical compounds (μg/m<sup>3</sup>) were measured for alcohols (ethanol: 378.9 and isopropanol: 23.6), ketones (acetone: 18.8), aldehydes (formaldehyde: 11.4 and acetaldehyde: 6.5) and terpenes (limonene: 4.3). The median concentration of PM<sub>2.5</sub> was 9.0 µg/m<sup>3</sup>. The main bacteria of these indoor environments were <i>Staphylococcus</i>, <i>Micrococcus</i> and <i>Bacillus</i> genera, with median bacterial concentrations in the indoor air of 14 cfu/m<sup>3</sup>. The two major fungal genera were <i>Cladosporium</i> and <i>Penicillium</i>, with median fungal concentrations of 7 cfu/m<sup>3</sup>. Conclusions: Indoor air in healthcare and care facilities contains a complex mixture of many pollutants found in higher concentrations compared to the indoor air in French hospitals in a previous study.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/10/1337indoor air qualityorganic compoundsparticulate matterenvironmental microbiologyenvironmental pollutantshealth facility environment |
| spellingShingle | Alexandre Baudet Estelle Baurès Hélène Guegan Olivier Blanchard Monique Guillaso Pierre Le Cann Jean-Pierre Gangneux Arnaud Florentin Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare and Care Facilities: Chemical Pollutants and Microbiological Contaminants Atmosphere indoor air quality organic compounds particulate matter environmental microbiology environmental pollutants health facility environment |
| title | Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare and Care Facilities: Chemical Pollutants and Microbiological Contaminants |
| title_full | Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare and Care Facilities: Chemical Pollutants and Microbiological Contaminants |
| title_fullStr | Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare and Care Facilities: Chemical Pollutants and Microbiological Contaminants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare and Care Facilities: Chemical Pollutants and Microbiological Contaminants |
| title_short | Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare and Care Facilities: Chemical Pollutants and Microbiological Contaminants |
| title_sort | indoor air quality in healthcare and care facilities chemical pollutants and microbiological contaminants |
| topic | indoor air quality organic compounds particulate matter environmental microbiology environmental pollutants health facility environment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/12/10/1337 |
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