Indoor Air Pollutants Concentrations Influenced By Dust Storm Event In Selected Schools In Gaza Strip

Abstract

Dust storm episode is a common transboundary phenomenon affecting the Eastern Mediterranean region, with significant impact on air quality. Quantitative information on the influence of Dust storm episodes in the indoor environment is still lacking. Real-time PM10, PM2.5, levels were measured in outdoor and indoor air before and during dust storm event in 2012. Relationships between indoor and outdoor pollutants concentrations were examined and discussed. The analysis revealed a significant contribution of dust storm event to the indoor PM levels. The average mass concentration of indoor PM2.5 was increased by a factor of 3 during the dust storm period (215.19±(93.73)μg/m3) as compared to non- dust storm period (67.44±(32.46)μg/m3) and exceeded the values set WHO guideline (25μg/m3). The results show a high contribution of dust storm episode in PM2.5 concentrations in PM10 (PM2.5/PM10) where the average indoor and outdoor ratios during dust event were 0.28 and 0.40, respectively. The I/O ratio values were found to be influenced by outdoor sources for all pollutants during the non-dust and dust periods. The results serve to improve our understanding of dust episode, which may have implications for a development of approaches to control outdoor originated indoor PM and improve indoor quality.