Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Abdel-Salam, Mahmoud M. M.

Titel

Outdoor and indoor factors influencing particulate matter and carbon dioxide levels in naturally ventilated urban homes

Ist Teil von

• Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995), 2021, Vol.71 (1), p.60-69

Ort / Verlag

United States: Taylor & Francis

Erscheinungsjahr

2021

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Taylor & Francis

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The present study investigated indoor and outdoor concentrations of two particulate matter size fractions (PM 10 and PM 2.5 ) and CO 2 in 20 urban homes ventilated naturally and located in one congested residential and commercial area in the city of Alexandria, Egypt. The results indicate that the daily mean PM 2.5 concentrations measured in the ambient air, living rooms, and kitchens of all sampling sites exceeded the WHO guideline by 100%, 65%, and 95%, respectively. The daily mean outdoor and indoor PM 10 levels in all sampling sites were found to exceed the WHO guideline by 100% and 80%, respectively. The indoor PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentrations were significantly correlated with their corresponding outdoor levels, as natural ventilation through opening doors and windows allowed direct transfer of outdoor airborne particles into the indoor air. Most of the kitchens investigated had higher indoor concentrations of PM 2.5 and CO 2 than in living rooms. The elevated levels of PM 2.5 and CO 2 in domestic kitchens were probably related to inadequate ventilation. The current study attempted to understand the sources and the various indoor and outdoor factors that affect indoor PM 10 , PM 2.5 and CO 2 concentrations. Several domestic activities, such as smoking, cooking, and cleaning, were found to constitute important sources of indoor air pollution. The indoor pollution caused by PM 2.5 was also found to be more serious in the domestic kitchens than in the living rooms and the results suggest that exposure to PM 2.5 is high and highlights the need for more effective control measures. Implications: Indoor air pollution is a complex problem that involves many determinant factors. Understanding the relationships and the influence of various indoor and outdoor factors on indoor air quality is very important to prioritize control measures and mitigation action plans. There is currently a lack of research studies in Egypt to investigate determinant factors controlling indoor air quality for urban homes. The present study characterizes the indoor and outdoor concentrations of PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and CO 2 in residential buildings in Alexandria city. The study also determines the indoor and outdoor factors which influence the indoor PM and CO 2 concentrations as well as it evaluates the potential indoor sources in the selected homes. This research will help in the development of future indoor air quality standards for Egypt.