Abstract
Indoor air quality (IAQ) in preschools is an important public health challenge. Particular attention should be paid to younger children, because they are more vulnerable to air pollution than higher grade children and because they spend more time indoors. Among air pollutants, particulate matter (PM) is of the greatest interest mainly due to its acute and chronic effects on children’s health. In addition, carbon dioxide (CO2) levels indicate ventilation conditions. In this paper, we present the concentrations of PM (PM1, PM2.5, PM10 and total—TSP) and CO2 monitored in four naturally ventilated nursery schools located in the area of Gliwice, Poland. The nursery schools were selected to characterize areas with different degrees of urbanization and traffic densities during the winter season. The results indicate the problem of elevated concentrations of PM inside the examined classrooms, as well as that of high levels of CO2 exceeding 1000 ppm in relation to outdoor air. The characteristics of IAQ were significantly different, both in terms of classroom occupation (younger or older children) and of localization (urban or rural). To evaluate the children’s exposure to poor IAQ, indicators based on air quality guidelines were proposed to rank classrooms according to their hazard on the health of children.
Highlights
The current strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training, assumes that, by the year 2020, at least 95% of children between the ages of four and whenever they start compulsory primary education should participate in early childhood education [1].In Poland, preschool education covers children aged from three to six years old and is fulfilled by nursery schools, preschool branches in schools and in preschool points
The present authors’ recent project (“Children’s exposure to indoor air pollutants in nursery schools—CHEIN”) concerning Indoor air quality (IAQ) (VOCs, bioaerosols, particulate matter (PM) and CO2 concentrations) in urban and rural nursery schools located in the industrial region of Upper Silesia, Poland, clearly indicated the problem of elevated concentrations of PM and CO2 during the winter season
In order to rank classrooms according to their hazard levels, integrated indicators were introduced to correlate World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and EU legislation values with the PM2.5, PM10 and CO2 concentrations found in these environments
Summary
The current strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training, assumes that, by the year 2020, at least 95% of children between the ages of four and whenever they start compulsory primary education should participate in early childhood education [1]. In Poland, preschool education covers children aged from three to six years old and is fulfilled by nursery schools, preschool branches in schools and in preschool points. In urban and rural areas, 84.4% and 58.6% of children attend preschool education [2]. In Poland, the compulsory participation of five-year-olds results in 93.6% contribution levels for early childhood education. The present authors’ recent project (“Children’s exposure to indoor air pollutants in nursery schools—CHEIN”) concerning IAQ (VOCs, bioaerosols, PM and CO2 concentrations) in urban and rural nursery schools located in the industrial region of Upper Silesia, Poland, clearly indicated the problem of elevated concentrations of PM and CO2 during the winter season. The aim of the present study is to characterize IAQ in four nursery school buildings located in urban and rural areas of Gliwice, in southern Poland. In order to rank classrooms according to their hazard levels, integrated indicators were introduced to correlate WHO guidelines and EU legislation values with the PM2.5, PM10 and CO2 concentrations found in these environments
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