U.C. Kumavat, A.A. Ansari and V.S. Vichare
Abstract
Educational institutions are frequently overlooked in environmental health studies despite their high occupancy rates. This study establishes a baseline for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management by assessing the pollutant profiles of âWetâ (Biotechnology/Chemistry) and âDryâ (IT/Computer Science) laboratories against an outdoor control on a campus in Thane. Air quality was monitored over 30 days using laser scattering and electrochemical sensors to measure Particulate Matter (PM), Formaldehyde (HCHO), and Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs). Results indicate that indoor academic environments function as significant reservoirs of pollutants (t=4.31, p<0.001). PM2.5 analysis revealed distinct spatial variations; dust-intensive zones like Mathematics laboratories recorded peak concentrations of 29.6 ?g/m³, significantly exceeding the outdoor baseline of 11.8 ?g/m³. Unexpectedly, âDryâ IT laboratories exhibited the highest peak TVOC loads 0.269 mg/m³, driven by thermal emissions from electronic components, which exceeded the solvent-induced levels observed in âWetâ laboratories 0.214 mg/m³. Formaldehyde levels in unventilated zones reached critical thresholds of 0.087 mg/m³, presenting a calculated Hazard Quotient (HQ) of ? 8.9 based on US EPA standards. Consequently, this research identifies enclosed, air-conditioned laboratories as environments requiring enhanced ventilation management to optimize occupational safety and advocates for the integration of phytoremediation and demand-controlled ventilation as sustainable mitigation strategies.