NIYATHI VIJAY AND JAYA DIVAKARAN SARASAMMA
Abstract
Indoor air quality monitoring in school buildings is essential for safeguarding the health, wellbeing, and academic success of school students and staff. Regular monitoring of school environments can detect potential problems with ventilation systems, building materials, and sources of pollution. In this study, PM2.5, PM10, CO, VOC, NO2, and Ozone levels were monitored in the indoor environment of rooms with different activities in school buildings of selected Government schools located in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. The naturally ventilated school buildings selected for this study are located near the medium-traffic roadway. The triplicate sampling of parameters was done in the study stations from September to November 2023 with an interval of 10-15 days using an Air quality monitor with specific sensors. Spatial and non-spatial parameters like room size, occupancy, type of roof, and number of doors and windows were noted. The results of the present study showed that the average values of PM2.5 and PM10 in the school buildings ranged from 68.3-296 ?g/m3 and 126.6 to 432.3 ?g/m3 respectively and were above the permissible limits of WHO standards (50 ?g/m3 for PM10 and 25 ?g/m3 from PM2.5). The school located near the national highway 66 showed the highest concentration of carbon monoxide compared to other stations. The average concentration of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone recorded are within the permissible standard limits. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 can lead to a reduction in average life expectancy from 8.5 to 20 months and also may lead to Sick Building Syndrome which could decrease productivity.