Effectiveness of a Protocol to Reduce Children’s Exposure to Particulate Matter and NO 2 in Schools during Alert Days

Stefano Zauli-Sajani (), Stefano Marchesi, Giuseppe Boselli, Elisa Broglia, Alessandro Angella, Elena Maestri, Nelson Marmiroli and Annamaria Colacci
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Stefano Zauli-Sajani: Regional Agency for Prevention Environment and Energy of Emilia-Romagna (Arpae), 40139 Bologna, Italy
Stefano Marchesi: Regional Agency for Prevention Environment and Energy of Emilia-Romagna (Arpae), 40139 Bologna, Italy
Giuseppe Boselli: Regional Agency for Prevention Environment and Energy of Emilia-Romagna (Arpae), 40139 Bologna, Italy
Elisa Broglia: Municipality of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
Alessandro Angella: Municipality of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy
Elena Maestri: Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per le Scienze Ambientali (CINSA), Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Nelson Marmiroli: Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per le Scienze Ambientali (CINSA), Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Annamaria Colacci: Regional Agency for Prevention Environment and Energy of Emilia-Romagna (Arpae), 40139 Bologna, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 17, 1-12

Abstract: Reducing children’s exposure to air pollutants should be considered a primary goal, especially for the most vulnerable subjects. The goal of this study was to test the effectiveness of applying a protocol in the event of alert days, i.e., days with forecasted PM 10 levels above the EU limit value (50 µg/m 3 ). The test was conducted, before the onset of SARS-CoV-2 restrictions, in a classroom of a primary school in Parma (Italy)—a highly polluted area in Northern Italy. The protocol included indications for the frequency of opening windows and doors, as well as the activation of an air purifier. Teachers and students were asked to apply the protocol only in the event of alert days, while no indications were provided for non-alert days. A monitoring system measuring PM 1 , PM 2.5 , PM 10 , CO 2 , and NO 2 was deployed in the classroom. Measurements of the same parameters were also performed outdoors near the school. The application of the protocol reduced the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio for all toxic pollutants. The reduction was also remarkable for PM 10 —the most critical air quality parameter in the study area (1.5 and 1.1 for non-alert and alert days, respectively). Indoor concentrations of PM 10 —especially during non-alert days—were often higher than outdoors, showing a major contribution from resuspension due to the movement of people and personal cloud. The protocol did not cause any increase in indoor CO 2 levels. Our findings showed that the application of a ventilation protocol together with the contribution of an air purifier may represent an effective way to reduce children’s exposure to air pollution during severe air pollution episodes. Considering the onset of COVID-19 and the airborne transmission of pathogens, this protocol now has more meaningful implications for children’s welfare, and can be integrated with protocols designed as measures against the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords: schools; indoor air quality; prevention; particulate matter; severe air pollution episodes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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