Strategies for Effective Management of Indoor Air Quality in a Kindergarten: CO<sub>2</sub> and Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations
The educational and play-related activities of children proceed mainly indoors in a kindergarten. High concentrations of indoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> have been linked to various harmful effects on children, considerably impacting their educational outcomes in ki...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Toxics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/11/931 |
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| author | Doyeon Lee Younghun Kim Kee-Jung Hong Gunhee Lee Hak-Joon Kim Dongho Shin Bangwoo Han |
| author_facet | Doyeon Lee Younghun Kim Kee-Jung Hong Gunhee Lee Hak-Joon Kim Dongho Shin Bangwoo Han |
| author_sort | Doyeon Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The educational and play-related activities of children proceed mainly indoors in a kindergarten. High concentrations of indoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> have been linked to various harmful effects on children, considerably impacting their educational outcomes in kindergarten. In this study, we explore different scenarios involving the operation of mechanical ventilation systems and air purifiers in kindergartens. Using numerical models to analyze indoor CO<sub>2</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration, we aim to optimize strategies that effectively reduce these harmful pollutants. We found that the amount of ventilation required to maintain good air quality, per child, was approximately 20.4 m<sup>3</sup>/h. However, we also found that as the amount of ventilation increased, so did the concentration of indoor PM<sub>2.5</sub>; we found that this issue can be resolved using a high-grade filter (i.e., a MERV 13 grade filter with a collection efficiency of 75%). This study provides a scientific basis for reducing PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations in kindergartens, while keeping CO<sub>2</sub> levels low. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:25:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f0c77bedbe4a409c9d95d3747ab827c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:25:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj.art-f0c77bedbe4a409c9d95d3747ab827c52023-11-24T15:09:25ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042023-11-01111193110.3390/toxics11110931Strategies for Effective Management of Indoor Air Quality in a Kindergarten: CO<sub>2</sub> and Fine Particulate Matter ConcentrationsDoyeon Lee0Younghun Kim1Kee-Jung Hong2Gunhee Lee3Hak-Joon Kim4Dongho Shin5Bangwoo Han6Department of Sustainable Environment Research, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon 34103, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Sustainable Environment Research, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon 34103, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Sustainable Environment Research, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon 34103, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Sustainable Environment Research, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon 34103, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Sustainable Environment Research, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon 34103, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Sustainable Environment Research, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon 34103, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Sustainable Environment Research, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials, Daejeon 34103, Republic of KoreaThe educational and play-related activities of children proceed mainly indoors in a kindergarten. High concentrations of indoor PM<sub>2.5</sub> and CO<sub>2</sub> have been linked to various harmful effects on children, considerably impacting their educational outcomes in kindergarten. In this study, we explore different scenarios involving the operation of mechanical ventilation systems and air purifiers in kindergartens. Using numerical models to analyze indoor CO<sub>2</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentration, we aim to optimize strategies that effectively reduce these harmful pollutants. We found that the amount of ventilation required to maintain good air quality, per child, was approximately 20.4 m<sup>3</sup>/h. However, we also found that as the amount of ventilation increased, so did the concentration of indoor PM<sub>2.5</sub>; we found that this issue can be resolved using a high-grade filter (i.e., a MERV 13 grade filter with a collection efficiency of 75%). This study provides a scientific basis for reducing PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations in kindergartens, while keeping CO<sub>2</sub> levels low.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/11/931kindergartenCO<sub>2</sub>PM<sub>2.5</sub>mechanical ventilationindoor air qualitynumerical model |
| spellingShingle | Doyeon Lee Younghun Kim Kee-Jung Hong Gunhee Lee Hak-Joon Kim Dongho Shin Bangwoo Han Strategies for Effective Management of Indoor Air Quality in a Kindergarten: CO<sub>2</sub> and Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations Toxics kindergarten CO<sub>2</sub> PM<sub>2.5</sub> mechanical ventilation indoor air quality numerical model |
| title | Strategies for Effective Management of Indoor Air Quality in a Kindergarten: CO<sub>2</sub> and Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations |
| title_full | Strategies for Effective Management of Indoor Air Quality in a Kindergarten: CO<sub>2</sub> and Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations |
| title_fullStr | Strategies for Effective Management of Indoor Air Quality in a Kindergarten: CO<sub>2</sub> and Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strategies for Effective Management of Indoor Air Quality in a Kindergarten: CO<sub>2</sub> and Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations |
| title_short | Strategies for Effective Management of Indoor Air Quality in a Kindergarten: CO<sub>2</sub> and Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations |
| title_sort | strategies for effective management of indoor air quality in a kindergarten co sub 2 sub and fine particulate matter concentrations |
| topic | kindergarten CO<sub>2</sub> PM<sub>2.5</sub> mechanical ventilation indoor air quality numerical model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/11/11/931 |
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