Abstract
Research on air quality issues in recently refurbished educational buildings is relatively limited. However, it is an important topic as students are often exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants, especially in urban environments. This study presents the results of a 25-day experimental campaign that took place in a primary school located in a densely built-up area, which retains a green roof system (GRS). All measurements refer to mass concentrations and chemical analysis of PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 micrometers), and they were implemented simultaneously on the GRS and within the classroom (C3) below during different periods of the year. The results demonstrated relatively low levels of PM10 in both experimental points, with the highest mean value of 72.02 μg m−3 observed outdoors during the cold period. Elemental carbon (EC) was also found be higher in the ambient environment (with a mean value of 2.78 μg m−3), while organic carbon (OC) was relatively balanced between the two monitoring sites. Moreover, sulfate was found to be the most abundant water soluble anion (2.57 μg m−3), mainly originating from ambient primary SO2 and penetrating into the classroom from windows. Additionally, the crustal origin of particles was shown in trace metals, where Al and Fe prevailed (9.55% and 8.68%, respectively, of the total PM10). Nevertheless, infiltration of outdoor particles within the classroom was found to affect indoor sources of metals. Finally, source apportionment using a positive matrix factorization (PMF) receptor model demonstrated six main factors of emissions, the most important of which were vehicles and biomass burning (30.30% contribution), along with resuspension of PM10 within the classroom from human activities (29.89% contribution). Seasonal variations seem to play a key role in the results.
Highlights
In most European countries, pupils spend up to 80% of their day indoors and most of the time in school classrooms, compared to other places, excluding their homes [1]
It was obvious that PM10, both indoors and outdoors, did not exceed the daily limit of 50 μg m−3 proposed by the European Directive 2008/50/EU [59], with the exception of the 2nd of February
57.14% of ambient measurements were found to be higher on the green roof system (GRS), mainly because of airborne suspended particles that were emitted as combustion products from fireplaces or other heating systems of the local dwellings
Summary
In most European countries, pupils spend up to 80% of their day indoors and most of the time in school classrooms, compared to other places, excluding their homes [1]. Indoor air quality (IAQ) in classrooms is an important issue of scientific interest as children inhale more air than adults, because of their low weight, and because of the limited immune system development in children [2,3,4,5]. Numerous researchers have attempted to associate environmental conditions within the classrooms with various respiratory symptoms of students [6,7,8,9]. Different IAQ levels were correlated with health symptoms by using scientific questionnaires
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