Exposure of Indoor Air Quality in Office Environment to Workers and its Relationship to Health

Year 2021, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 231 - 244, 31.01.2021

Kemalettin Parmaksız Tuba Rastgeldi Dogan Mehmet İrfan Yeşilnacar

https://doi.org/10.31202/ecjse.824204

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a growing concern, as people spend about 80–90 percent of their time indoors.It is known that IAQ in office buildings influences people’s health. Employment agencies are one of the most important institutions,where more than 1000 people visit and hold interviews everyday. Measurements were made in order to assess the IAQ that staff and visitors to the building are exposed to,and the findings were compared to WHO and ARSHAE standards.Two questionnaires were applied to the staff to have an insight into their exposure and determine its effects on health.The mean PM10 was found to be 67.73 μg/mᶾ; PM2.5 was 35.95 μg/mᶾ and sound was 67 dBA, which may pose risks for health. The first questionnaire was to measure the exposure of indoor air pollutants to individuals, who reported that ventilation is frequently inadequate (42%) and the office environment is always noisy (57%). In the second questionnaire, the participants complained of dry and sore throat (42%), frequent tearing and redness in eyes (60%). The building is an old one with a lack of ventilation and air conditioning,and an open office system is used without insulation system,which are all considered to be responsible for the obtained results.

Keywords

Particulate Matter (PM), Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Personal Exposure

Supporting Institution

HUBAK (Harran Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Kurumu)

Project Number

Project No. HUBAK: 16048

Thanks

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Harran University Research Fund which supported this work (Project No. HUBAK: 16048)

Ofis Ortamında Çalışanların İç Hava Kalitesine Maruziyeti ve Sağlıkla İlişkisi

Abstract

İnsanlar zamanlarının yaklaşık yüzde 80-90'ını kapalı alanlarda geçirdiklerinden, iç hava kalitesi (IAQ) büyüyen bir endişe kaynağıdır. Ofis binalarındaki IAQ insanların sağlığını etkilediği bilinmektedir. İş bulma kurumları, her gün 1000'den fazla kişinin ziyaret ettiği ve görüşme yaptığı en önemli kurumlardan biridir. Personel ve binaya gelen ziyaretçilerin maruz kaldığı iç hava kalitesi değerini değerlendirmek için ölçümler yapılmış ve bulgular WHO and ARSHAE standartlarla karşılaştırılmıştır. Personel maruziyetlerini anlamak ve sağlık üzerindeki etkilerini belirlemek için iki anket uygulandı. Değerler ortalama PM10 67,73 μg/mᶾ; PM2.5 35.95 μg/mᶾ ve gürültü 67 dBA bulundu, bu değerler sağlık açısından risk oluşturabilir. İlk anket katılımcıları iç hava kirleticilerinin maruziyetini ölçmek içindi; havalandırmanın sıklıkla yetersiz (% 42) ve ofis ortamının her zaman gürültülü (% 57) olduğunu bildirdiler. İkinci ankette katılımcılar boğaz kuruluğu (% 42), gözde sık sık yaşarma ve kızarıklıktan (% 60) şikayet ettiler. Bina, havalandırması ve kliması olmayan eski bir bina olup, elde edilen sonuçlardan sorumlu olduğu düşünülen yalıtım sistemi olmadan açık ofis sistemi kullanılmaktadır.

Keywords

Partikül madde (PM), İç Hava Kalitesi (IAQ), Kişisel Maruziyet, Solunum Etkisi

Project Number

Project No. HUBAK: 16048

References

• [1] Abdul-Wahab SA, En SCF, Elkamel A, Ahmadi L, Yetilmesoy K. A Review Of Standards and Guidelines Set By International Bodies For The Parameters Of İndoor Air Quality. Atmospheric Pollution Research. 2015, 6:751-767.
• [2] Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1. 2013
• [3] Akman A. Human Health: Healthy Structure and Structure Biology. Building Journal. 2005, 279: 89.
• [4] Atmaca İ, Yiğit A. Examination of Current Standards and Comfort Parameters Related to brilliant Comfort with Various Models, IX.National Installation Engineering Congress, İzmir. 2009, 543-555.
• [5] Morawska L and Salthammer T. Indoor Environment: Airborne Particles and Settled Dust, Wiley, New York, 2004, 2741–2745.
• [6] He C, Morawska L, Taplin L. Particle emission characteristics of office printers. Environ Sci Technol. 2007, 41(17):6039–45.
• [7] Tichenor BA, Mason MA. Organic emissions from consumer products and building materials to the indoor environment. Japca. 1988, 38(3):264–268.
• [8] Hinds WC. Aerosol Technology: Properties, behavior, and measurement of airborne particles, 2nd ed. Wiley Interscience, New York, 1999: 483.
• [9] Morawska L, Zhang JJ. Combustion sources of particles. 1. Health relevance and source signatures. Chemosphere. 2002, 49(9):1045–58.
• [10] Bernstein JA, Alexis N, Bacchus H, Bernstein IL, Fritz P, Horner E. The health effects of non-industrial indoor air pollution. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008, 121(3):585–91.
• [11] Vallius M, Janssen NA, Heinrich J, Hoek G, Ruuskanen J, Cyrys J. Sources and elemental composition of ambient PM(2.5) in three European cities. Sci Total Environ. 2005, 337(1–3):147–62.
• [12] Cyrys J, Pitz M, Bischof W, Wichmann HE, Heinrich J. Relationship between indoor and outdoor levels of fine particle mass, particle number concentrations and black smoke under different ventilation conditions. J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol. 2004, 14(4):275–83.
• [13] Janssen NA, de Hartog JJ, Hoek G, Brunekreef B, Lanki T, Timonen KL. Personal exposure to fine particulate matter in elderly subjects: relation between personal, indoor, and outdoor concentrations. J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2000, 50(7):1133–43.
• [14] Chatoutsidou SE, Ondracek J, Tesar O, Tørseth K, Zdímal V, Lazaridis M. Indoor/outdoor particulate matter number and mass concentration in modern offices. Build. Environ. 2015, 92:462–474.
• [15] Nørgaard AW, Kofoed-Sørensen V, Mandin C, Ventura G, Mabilia R, Perreca E, Cattaneo A, Spinazze A, Mihucz VG, Szigeti T, de Kluizenaar Y, Cornelissen HJM, Trantallidi M, Carrer P, Sakellaris I, Bartzis J, Wolkoff P. Ozoneinitiated terpene reaction products in five European offices: replacement of a floor cleaning agent. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2014, 48:13331–13339.
• [16] Sangiorgi G, Ferrero L, Ferrini BS, Lo Porto C, Perrone MG, Zangrando R, Gambaro A, Lazziti Z., Bolzacchini E. Indoor air borne particle sourcesand semi-volatile partitioning effect of outdoor fine PM in offices. Atmos. Environ. 2013, 65:205–214.
• [17] Szigeti T, Dunster C, Cattaneo A,Cavallo D, Spinazzé A, Saraga DE, Sakellaris IA, deKluizenaar Y, Cornelissen EJM, Hanninen O, Peltonen M, Calzolai G, Lucarelli F, Mandin C, Bartzis JG, Záray G, Kelly FJ. Oxidative potential and chemical composition of PM2.5 in modern office buildings across Europe — the OFFICAIR study. Environ. Int. 2016, (92-93): 324–333.
• [18] Wolkoff P. Indoor air pollutants in office environments: Assessment of comfort, health, and performance. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 2013, 216:371– 394
• [19] Bluyssen PM, Roda C, Mandin C, Fossati S, Carrer P de Kluizenaar Y, Mihucz, VG, de Oliveira Fernandes E, Bartzis J. Self-reported health and comfort in ‘modern’ office buildings: first results from the European OFFICAIR study. Indoor Air. 2016, 26(2): 298–317.
• [20] Szigeti T, Dunster C, Cattaneo A, Spinazzè A, Mandin C, LePonner E, Oliveira Fernandes E , Ventura G, Saraga DE, Sakellaris I.A, De Kluizenaar Y, Cornelissen E, Bartzis JG, Kelly K.J. Spatial and temporal variation of particulate matter characteristics within office buildings, the OFFICAIR study, Sci. Total Environ. 2017, (587–588) :59-67.
• [21] Lanki T, Ahokas A, Alm S, Janssen NA, Hoek G, de Hartog JJ. Determinants of personal and indoor PM2.5 and absorbance among elderly subjects with coronary heart disease. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2007, 17(2):124–33.
• [22] Jamriska M, Morawska L, Clark BA. Effect of ventilation and filtration on submicrometer particles in an indoor environment. Indoor Air. 2000, 10(1):19–26.
• [23] Parker JL, Larson RR, Eskelson E, Wood EM, Veranth JM. Particle size distribution and composition in a mechanically ventilated school building during air pollution episodes. Indoor Air. 2008, 18(5):386–93.
• [24] Lappalainen S, Salonen H, Salmi K, Reijula K. Indoor air particles in office buildings with suspected indoor air proplems in the Helsinki area. Int. J. Occup. Med. Environ. Health 2013, 26:155–164.
• [25] Hwang T, Kim JT. Assessment of indoor environmental quality in open-plan offices. Indoor Built Environ. 2013, 22:139–156
• [26] Duval CL, Charles KE, Veitch JA. Open-plan office density and environmental satisfaction. IRC Research Report. 2002, RR-150: NRC-IRC.
• [27] Rubinstein F. Photoelectric control of equiillumination lighting systems. Energy Build. 1984; 6(2):141–150.
• [28] Goldman CA. Measured energy savings from residential retrofits: updated results from the BECA-B project. Energy Build. 1985, 8(2):137–155.
• [29] Gill ZM, Tierneyb MJ, Pegga IM, Allanb N. Measured energy and water performance of an aspiring low energy/carbon affordable housing site in the UK. Energy Build. 2011, 43(1):117–125.
• [30] Lee J, Hwang T, Song D, Kim JT. Quantitative reduction method of draft in high-rise buildings, using revolving doors. Indoor Built Environ. 2012, 21(1):79–91.
• [31] Bahaj AS, James PAB, Jentsch MF. Potential of emerging glazing technologies for highly glazed buildings in hot arid climates. Energy Build. 2008, 40(5):720–731.
• [32] COEHA A. Committee of the environmental and occupational health assembly of the American thoracic society. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995, 155(4):1376–83.
• [33] Dockery DW. Health effects of particulate air pollution. Ann Epidemiol. 2009, 19(4):257–63.
• [34] Simoni M, Scognamiglio A, Carrozzi L, Baldacci S, Angino A, Pistelli F. Indoor exposures and acute respiratory effects in two general population samples from a rural and an urban area in Italy. J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol. 2004, 1:144–52.
• [35] Simoni M, Carrozzi L, Baldacci S, Scognamiglio A, di Pede F, Sapigni T. The Po River Delta (North Italy) indoor epidemiological study: effects of pollutant exposure on acute respiratory symptoms and respiratory function in adults. Arch Environ Health. 2002, 57(2):130–6.
• [36] Brightman HS, Milton DK, Wypij D, Burge HA, Spengler JD. Evaluating building-related symptoms using the US EPA BASE study results. Indoor Air. 2008, 18:335–345.
• [37] Samoli E, Peng R, Ramsay T, Pipikou M, Touloumi G, Dominici F, Burnett R, Cohen A, Krewski D, Samet J, Katsouyanni K. Acute effects of ambient particulate matter on mortality in Europe and North America: results from the APHENA study. Environmental Health Perspective. 2008, 116: 1480–1486.
• [38] Beelen R, Hoek G, van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA, Fischer P, Schouten LJ. Long-term effects of traffic-related air pollution on mortality in a Dutch cohort (NLCSAir Study). Environ Health Perspect. 2008, 116:196–202.
• [39] Krewski D, Jerrett M, Burnett RT, Ma R, Hughes E, Shi Y. Extended Follow-Up and Spatial Analysis of the American Cancer Society Study Linking Particulate Air Pollution and Mortality.HEI Research, Report 140. Boston, 2009, MA:Health Effects Institute.
• [40] Pantawane RN, Kanchan M, Namrata Kawade S. Effects of Noise Pollution on Human Health, International Advanced Research Journal in Science, Engineering and Technology. 2017, Vol. 4,Special Issue 3.
• [41] Gou Z, Lau SSY. A survey of sick building syndrome: Workplace design elements and perceived indoor environmental quality. Journal of Facilities Management. 2012, 10(4): 256-265.
• [42] Özyaral O, Keskin Y. Patient Building Syndrome. Turkey Textile Employers' Association Publishing, Printing Tiglat, Istanbul, 2007, 141-143.
• [43] Salleh NM, Kamaruzzaman SN, Mahyuddin N. Sick building symptoms among children in private pre-schools in Malaysia: associatıon of different ventilation strategies. Journal of Building Performance. 2013, 4(1): 73-81.