Measurement and prediction of the effect of students’ activities on airborne particulate concentration in a classroom

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have shown links between human exposure to indoor airborne particles and adverse health effects. Several recent studies have also reported that the classroom environment has an impact on students’ health and performance. In this study, particle concentration in a university classroom is assessed experimentally for different occupancy periods. The mass concentrations of different particle size ranges (0.3–≥20 μm), and three particulate matter fractions (PM₁, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀), were measured simultaneously in a classroom with different occupancy periods, including occupied and unoccupied periods, at the University of Reading, UK, during the winter, spring, and summer periods of 2010. The results show that students’ presence is a significant factor affecting particles concentration of PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and other narrow ranges from 0.65 μm and larger. The resuspension per student of the three particulate matter (PM) fractions was also determined in the study.

Acknowledgments

Mohammed S. Alshitawi, MS, is Lecturer. Hazim B. Awbi, PhD, Member ASHRAE, is Professor.