Indoor air quality assessment in public schools in Perlis

Abstract

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has been matter of public concern as people mostly spend their time in indoor environment especially children, therefore more exposed to indoor air pollution. The primary objective of this study is to identify types of indoor air pollutant, determine the exposure level of pollutant and evaluate potential adverse effect to students in indoor schools. Three schools were randomly selected in Kangar and Arau areas. The sampling is being conducted in Sekolah Kebangsaan Putra, Sekolah Kebangsaan Pauh and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tengku Budriah and the monitoring was conducted in the classroom, library and the science lab of each schools. Moreover, the air monitoring at outdoor environment was also conducted to compare with indoor environment and identify the source characteristics. Concentrations of indoor and outdoor air pollutant (e.g. CO, CO2, SO2, NO2 and VOCs) were collected by using Aeroqual Series 500 Portable Indoor Air Quality Monitor in about 10 – 15 minutes for each sensor. The equipment was placed at the back of each room. From the result of sampling, the average indoor of CO, CO2, SO2, NO2 and VOCs concentrations in all selected schools were 0.39, 484, 0.002, 0.046 and 0.04 ppm respectively. Likewise, the average CO, CO2, SO2, NO2 and VOCs concentrations at outdoor environment is 1.11, 442, 0.03, 0.019 and 0.03 ppm respectively. Based on the result, the concentration of CO need to be emphasized since the effect of CO found out to be most significant. Basically, all of the pollutant concentrations do not exceed the standard limit. From the health risk assessment, it can be concluded that potential health risk for human exposure to CO was low birth weight, auditory system, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma symptom and respiratory responses.