Sustainable assessment of air quality in school buildings in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The aim is to study the influence of outdoor air on the indoor air quality (IAQ) of an elementary school located near the roadside in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The air quality was asses at two locations of the school (inside and outside). The concentrations of particulate matter (PM) 1.0, 2.5, and 10, carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were determined with the help of Air Quality Egg (Kickstarter Company, USA). The factors that can influence the air quality (working and non-working hours, arriving/leaving hours, weekends, and dust storms) were also considered during observations. The methodology followed in this study was according to the standard of "ISO 12103-1 AI Test Dust; ASHRAE". The findings of this study clearly show that traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) affected the IAQ of the school near the roadside. During the working and arrival/leaving hours, PM (1.0 2.5, 10.0) inside the classroom remains below the ambient air quality standards of WHO, EPA, and Saudi limits. Likewise, CO and NO2 levels were lower than the reported limit with the maximum value of 0.176, 0.078 ppb, and 48.69, 46.22 ppb at working and arrival/leaving hours. However, indoor/outdoor ratios were found to be > 1.0 at working hours of CO and all parameters of NO2, indicating strong relation between occupants and surrounding human activities. During dust storms, indoor and outdoor average values remain highest due to natural climatic conditions. The study's findings can be applied to epidemiological investigations of children's exposure to PM, CO, and NO2 due to TRAP, as well as the formation and implementation of remedial action to protect children's health.