Analyzing indoor air pollutants in naturally ventilated athletic facilities. A case of study

Abstract

Better indoor air quality (IAQ) lowers the exposure to air pollutants that can lead to decreased lung function, and exacerbation of common recurring respiratory conditions, such as asthma. Due to the higher respiratory rate, these adverse effects are particularly dangerous for athletes during exercise. Thus, investigating, and mitigating exposure to air pollutants during exercise is necessary in athletic centers. Among such facilities, cross-training gymnasiums are becoming increasingly popular and are commonly not equipped with HVAC systems, relying solely on natural ventilation to create a comfortable and healthy indoor environment. This study investigated the impact of 16 scenarios combining natural ventilation, fans, and air cleaner, on the IAQ of an athletic facility in San Antonio, TX, USA. For this purpose, occupancy, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), Particulate Matter (PM), as well as indoor and outdoor air temperature and relative humidity levels were monitored for 3 months in 5-min intervals to identify health threatening patterns. Results showed that some ventilation scenarios presented high concentrations of CO2, TVOC and PM exceeding the recommended limit values, while CO did not present concerning levels regardless of the ventilation strategy. Temperature levels indoors were consistently higher than outdoors, while relative humidity levels were lower inside. Remarkably, air filtration did not show a significant impact on IAQ in any of the analyzed scenarios. These results prove that it is essential to optimize the natural ventilation and occupancy in order to reduce the exposure to air pollutants in naturally ventilated fitness centers.