Air Quality Versus Perceived Comfort and Health in Office Buildings at Western Macedonia Area, Greece during the Pandemic Period
This study investigated the indoor environment quality (IEQ) of eight office buildings of interest due to: (a) their location at the region of Western Macedonia, Greece, which is an area characterized by aggravated air quality and is currently in a transition phase because of changes in the energy p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/2/1137 |
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| author | Ioannis Sakellaris Giannis Papadopoulos Dikaia Saraga Thalia Xenofontos Evangelos Tolis Giorgos Panaras John Bartzis |
| author_facet | Ioannis Sakellaris Giannis Papadopoulos Dikaia Saraga Thalia Xenofontos Evangelos Tolis Giorgos Panaras John Bartzis |
| author_sort | Ioannis Sakellaris |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigated the indoor environment quality (IEQ) of eight office buildings of interest due to: (a) their location at the region of Western Macedonia, Greece, which is an area characterized by aggravated air quality and is currently in a transition phase because of changes in the energy production strategy to reduce the use of lignite as an energy fuel; and (b) the survey’s timing, characterized by new working conditions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic period. In-site measurements were performed to identify the indoor air pollutants to which the occupants were exposed, while questionnaires were collected regarding the participants’ perception of the working environment conditions, indoor air quality, and health symptoms. The statistical analysis results showed that the most-reported health symptoms were headache, dry eyes, and sneezing. The acceptance of new working conditions showed a significant correlation with their overall comfort and health perception. Occupants in offices with higher pollutant concentrations, such as NO<sub>2</sub>, benzene and toluene, were more likely to report health symptoms. The evaluation of the plausible health risks for the occupants of the buildings with carcinogenic and no-cancer models showed that health problems could exist despite low pollutant concentration levels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:41:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f53a0118031143fcab4275f1d6e9a5e9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:41:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-f53a0118031143fcab4275f1d6e9a5e92023-11-30T21:06:43ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-01-01132113710.3390/app13021137Air Quality Versus Perceived Comfort and Health in Office Buildings at Western Macedonia Area, Greece during the Pandemic PeriodIoannis Sakellaris0Giannis Papadopoulos1Dikaia Saraga2Thalia Xenofontos3Evangelos Tolis4Giorgos Panaras5John Bartzis6Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic School Campus, University of Western Macedonia, Active Urban Planning Zone (ZEP), 50100 Kozani, GreeceDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic School Campus, University of Western Macedonia, Active Urban Planning Zone (ZEP), 50100 Kozani, GreeceAtmospheric Chemistry & Innovative Technologies Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, 15310 Agia Paraskevi, GreeceDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic School Campus, University of Western Macedonia, Active Urban Planning Zone (ZEP), 50100 Kozani, GreeceDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic School Campus, University of Western Macedonia, Active Urban Planning Zone (ZEP), 50100 Kozani, GreeceDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic School Campus, University of Western Macedonia, Active Urban Planning Zone (ZEP), 50100 Kozani, GreeceDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic School Campus, University of Western Macedonia, Active Urban Planning Zone (ZEP), 50100 Kozani, GreeceThis study investigated the indoor environment quality (IEQ) of eight office buildings of interest due to: (a) their location at the region of Western Macedonia, Greece, which is an area characterized by aggravated air quality and is currently in a transition phase because of changes in the energy production strategy to reduce the use of lignite as an energy fuel; and (b) the survey’s timing, characterized by new working conditions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic period. In-site measurements were performed to identify the indoor air pollutants to which the occupants were exposed, while questionnaires were collected regarding the participants’ perception of the working environment conditions, indoor air quality, and health symptoms. The statistical analysis results showed that the most-reported health symptoms were headache, dry eyes, and sneezing. The acceptance of new working conditions showed a significant correlation with their overall comfort and health perception. Occupants in offices with higher pollutant concentrations, such as NO<sub>2</sub>, benzene and toluene, were more likely to report health symptoms. The evaluation of the plausible health risks for the occupants of the buildings with carcinogenic and no-cancer models showed that health problems could exist despite low pollutant concentration levels.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/2/1137sick building syndrome (SBS)volatile organic compounds (VOCs)aldehydeshealth perceptioncontrol perceptionhealth risk assessment |
| spellingShingle | Ioannis Sakellaris Giannis Papadopoulos Dikaia Saraga Thalia Xenofontos Evangelos Tolis Giorgos Panaras John Bartzis Air Quality Versus Perceived Comfort and Health in Office Buildings at Western Macedonia Area, Greece during the Pandemic Period Applied Sciences sick building syndrome (SBS) volatile organic compounds (VOCs) aldehydes health perception control perception health risk assessment |
| title | Air Quality Versus Perceived Comfort and Health in Office Buildings at Western Macedonia Area, Greece during the Pandemic Period |
| title_full | Air Quality Versus Perceived Comfort and Health in Office Buildings at Western Macedonia Area, Greece during the Pandemic Period |
| title_fullStr | Air Quality Versus Perceived Comfort and Health in Office Buildings at Western Macedonia Area, Greece during the Pandemic Period |
| title_full_unstemmed | Air Quality Versus Perceived Comfort and Health in Office Buildings at Western Macedonia Area, Greece during the Pandemic Period |
| title_short | Air Quality Versus Perceived Comfort and Health in Office Buildings at Western Macedonia Area, Greece during the Pandemic Period |
| title_sort | air quality versus perceived comfort and health in office buildings at western macedonia area greece during the pandemic period |
| topic | sick building syndrome (SBS) volatile organic compounds (VOCs) aldehydes health perception control perception health risk assessment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/2/1137 |
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