Indoor air quality in university classrooms and relative environment in terms of mass concentrations of particulate matter

Abstract

The mass concentrations of coarse (PM₁₀) and fine (PM_2.5) particulate matter were measured in different classrooms and relevant indoors areas of Democritus University, School of Engineering, Xanthi, with portable aerosol monitoring equipment. Two sampling campaigns were conducted in different seasons. The results indicated that the average concentrations in classrooms ranged from 32–188 μg/m³ and 25–151 μg/m³ for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, respectively. Concentration levels above 300 μg/m³ were usually recorded, while the PM_2.5/PM₁₀ ratio was about 0.8. As expected, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 average concentrations were significantly higher in the open-access meeting place of common use, indicating the significance of student trespassing and occasional smoking in the deterioration of indoors air quality.

Keywords:

• Indoor air quality
• fine particulate matter
• university classrooms
• PM₁₀
• PM_2.5

Notes

¹Max. and min. values recorded during half hour sampling at all classrooms on non-working days.

²Max. and min. values recorded during the outdoor sampling before and after the main indoor sampling at all sites, both on working and nonworking days.

³Annual average/24-hour average.