Chemical Characterization of the Indoor Air Quality of a University Hospital: Penetration of Outdoor Air Pollutants

Paul T. J. Scheepers, Luuk Van Wel, Gwendolyn Beckmann and Rob B. M. Anzion
Additional contact information
Paul T. J. Scheepers: Research Lab Molecular Epidemiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboudumc, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Luuk Van Wel: Research Lab Molecular Epidemiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboudumc, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Gwendolyn Beckmann: Research Lab Molecular Epidemiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboudumc, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Rob B. M. Anzion: Research Lab Molecular Epidemiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboudumc, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: For healthcare centers, local outdoor sources of air pollution represent a potential threat to indoor air quality (IAQ). The aim of this study was to study the impact of local outdoor sources of air pollution on the IAQ of a university hospital. IAQ was characterized at thirteen indoor and two outdoor locations and source samples were collected from a helicopter and an emergency power supply. Volatile organic compounds (VOC), acrolein, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), respirable particulate matter (PM-4.0 and PM-2.5) and their respective benz(a)pyrene contents were determined over a period of two weeks. Time-weighted average concentrations of NO 2 (4.9–17.4 ?g/m 3 ) and formaldehyde (2.5–6.4 ?g/m 3 ) were similar on all indoor and outdoor locations. The median concentration VOC in indoor air was 119 ?g/m 3 (range: 33.1–2450 ?g/m 3 ) and was fivefold higher in laboratories (316 ?g/m 3 ) compared to offices (57.0 ?g/m 3 ). PM-4.0 and benzo(a)pyrene concentration were lower in buildings serviced by a >99.95% efficiency particle filter, compared to buildings using a standard 80–90% efficiency filter ( p < 0.01). No indications were found that support a significant contribution of known local sources such as fuels or combustion engines to any of the IAQ parameters measured in this study. Chemical IAQ was primarily driven by known indoor sources and activities.

Keywords: acrolein; benz(a)pyrene; diesel engine exhaust; formaldehyde; helicopter engine exhaust; respirable dust; volatile organic compounds (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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