Particulate Matter Characterization in a Hospital’s Underground Car Park

Abstract

The air quality in a hospital’s underground car park is a concern because diesel fumes from cars impact upon vulnerable people attending medical consultations. This research aims to quantify the potential health risk associated with a particular hospital car park. Particulate matter was evaluated in the area with direct reading devices for particle numbers and mass concentrations (CPC 3007, EEPS 3090, Trolex Air XD, Nanozen, and Grimm 1109). Elemental and total carbon concentrations were measured following the NIOSH 5040 method, while volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured through laboratory analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive using X-Ray Analysis SEM-EDX microscopy. The nanoparticle levels reached over 80,000 nanoparticles/cm3 (double the German Institut für Arbeitsschutz (IFA) benchmark levels). Diesel particulate matter levels measured as elemental carbon were around 35% of the occupational limit, and from the 49 VOCs analyzed only 13 were detected in quantities below the 0.1% of the occupational limit, while levels of the 13 PAHs analyzed, were below the laboratory limit of quantification. The study concludes that particulate matter in the underground car park can easily exceed nanoparticles benchmark levels and could be harmful, mainly to vulnerable people. It is therefore recommended that they use the outdoor car park or minimize their time in the underground one.