Investigation on the ambient air quality in a hospital environment

C.O Ayodele,L.A Jimoda,J.A Sonibare,B.S Fakinle,Peter Christiaan Speldewinde

doi:10.1080/23311843.2016.1215281

Abstract

AbstractThis study examined the ambient levels of criteria air pollutants in the indoor and outdoor environment of a typical hospital facility. Ambient concentration of the criteria pollutants was monitored at nine sampling locations using the ToxiRAE gas monitors both in the rainy and dry seasons. The results showed that the overall 24-h concentrations for CO and NH3 were 0.18 ± 0.19 and 0.11 ± 0.13 ppm, respectively, for dry season. During the wet season, the extrapolated 24-h concentrations ranged 0.09–1.09 ppm for CO, 0.04 ± 0.08 ppm for NH3 while NO and NO2 had 0.03–0.21 ppm and 0–0.06 ppm, respectively. The result of the study shows that the 24-h NH3 concentration of 0.44 ppm recorded at S5 during dry season breached the National Air Quality Standards of the Federal Ministry of Environment Standard, Nigeria. Similarly, NO and NO2 levels were higher than other gaseous parameters measured in all the sampling locations during the wet season. This study establishes that human activities may have deleter...

Highlights

In recent years, a number of studies have established the link between different anthropogenic activities in our environment and its impact on ambient air quality
Measured ambient concentrations from the sampling locations were of the range 0.07–1.64, 0–0.04, and 0–1.07 ppm for carbon monoxide (CO), NO2, and NH3, respectively, for dry season period but at the control point during this season, all measured pollutants expect NH3 which reads 0.09 ppm were not detected
The result of the study indicated that the extrapolated 24-h NH3 concentration of 0.44 ppm recorded at S5 during dry season breached the National Air Quality Standards (NAQS) of the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) Standard, Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

A number of studies have established the link between different anthropogenic activities in our environment and its impact on ambient air quality. IAQ is a significant issue needed to be considered with great caution. Air pollution, both indoor and outdoor, is often considered the major cause of environmental health problems (Yousef, Elshareef, Ibraheem, & Alsayed, 2013). 62– 87% of the day is spent in the residential environment, which may be critical for the daily total personal exposure of the population (Adgate, Ramachandran, Pratt, Waller, & Sexton, 2002)

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Discussion

Conclusion