| Title: | Assessment of indoor and outdoor air quality in primary schools of Cyprus during the COVID-19 pandemic measures in May-July 2021 |
| Author(s): | Konstantinou C; Constantinou A; Kleovoulou EG; Kyriacou A; Kakoulli C; Milis G; Michaelides M; Makris KC; |
| Address: | "Cyprus International Institute for Environmental and Public Health (CII), Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus. LELANTUS Innovations Ltd, Nicosia, Cyprus. Department of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Informatics, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus. PHOEBE Research & Innovation Ltd, Nicosia, Cyprus" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09354 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 2405-8440 (Print) 2405-8440 (Electronic) 2405-8440 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Combined pollutant effects from indoor and outdoor sources on children's health, while being at school have not been holistically tackled. The aim of the School Temperature and Environmental Pollutants Study (STEPS) was to perform a school population representative assessment of indoor air quality (IAQ) in primary schools of densely and intermediate populated areas of Cyprus (n = 42). The study took place during May-July 2021 when a school-specific COVID-19 protocol was in place. Questionnaire-based characteristics of schools/classrooms were collected along with 24/48-h long IAQ monitoring of air temperature, relative humidity (RH), particulate matter (PM), carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), using low-cost sensors. Mixed effect models assessed the IAQ determinants during school hours. Indoor PM, temperature, RH and VOCs increased with progressing school periods in the day, while indoor CO(2) decreased. Indoor RH and CO(2) were negatively associated with % open windows, while indoor PM(2.5) was positively associated. Most of school time (85%), indoor air temperature exceeded the recommended upper limit (27 degrees C), while a third of indoor PM(2.5) (24-h) measurements exceeded 15 mug/m(3). The interplay of clean indoor air with adequate ventilation and adaptation to heat stress in schools is important and its comprehensive characterization requires holistic methodological approaches and tools" |
| Keywords: | COVID-19 measures Environmental pollutants Exposome Indoor air quality School Sensors; |
| Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINEKonstantinou, Corina Constantinou, Andria Kleovoulou, Eleni G Kyriacou, Alexis Kakoulli, Christina Milis, George Michaelides, Michalis Makris, Konstantinos C eng England 2022/05/10 Heliyon. 2022 May; 8(5):e09354. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09354. Epub 2022 May 2" |
