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Investigation of Indoor Air Quality and the Identification of Influential Factors at Primary Schools in the North of China

Author

Listed:
  • Zhen Peng

    (Department of Architecture and Built Environment, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 199 Taikang East Road, Ningbo 315100, China)

  • Wu Deng

    (Department of Architecture and Built Environment, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 199 Taikang East Road, Ningbo 315100, China)

  • Rosangela Tenorio

    (Department of Architecture and Built Environment, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 199 Taikang East Road, Ningbo 315100, China)

Abstract

Over 70% of a pupil’s school life is spent inside a classroom, and indoor air quality has a significant impact on students’ attendance and learning potential. Therefore, the indoor air quality in primary school buildings is highly important. This empirical study investigates the indoor air quality in four naturally ventilated schools in China, with a focus on four parameters: PM 2.5 , PM 10 , CO 2 , and temperature. The correlations between the indoor air quality and the ambient air pollution, building defects, and occupants’ activities have been identified and discussed. The results indicate that building defects and occupants’ activities have a significant impact on indoor air quality. Buildings with better air tightness have a relatively smaller ratio of indoor particulate matter (PM) concentrations to outdoor PM concentrations when unoccupied. During occupied periods, the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio could be larger than 1 due to internal students’ activities. The indoor air temperature in winter is mainly determined by occupants’ activities and the adiabatic ability of a building’s fabrics. CO 2 can easily exceed 1000 ppm on average due to the closing of windows and doors to keep the inside air warmer in winter. It is concluded that improving air tightness might be a way of reducing outdoor air pollutants’ penetration in naturally ventilated school buildings. Mechanical ventilation with air purification could be also an option on severely polluted days.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhen Peng & Wu Deng & Rosangela Tenorio, 2017. "Investigation of Indoor Air Quality and the Identification of Influential Factors at Primary Schools in the North of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:7:p:1180-:d:103759
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Fusheng Ma & Changhong Zhan & Xiaoyang Xu, 2019. "Investigation and Evaluation of Winter Indoor Air Quality of Primary Schools in Severe Cold Weather Areas of China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Mahsa Tashakor & Reza Dahmardeh Behrooz & Seyed Reza Asvad & Dimitris G. Kaskaoutis, 2022. "Tracing of Heavy Metals Embedded in Indoor Dust Particles from the Industrial City of Asaluyeh, South of Iran," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-19, June.
    3. Carla Balocco & Lorenzo Leoncini, 2020. "Energy Cost for Effective Ventilation and Air Quality for Healthy Buildings: Plant Proposals for a Historic Building School Reopening in the Covid-19 Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Shuya Zhang & Kexin Song & Qichao Ban & Puyue Gong & Ruisi Li & Zhen Peng, 2023. "Indoor Air Quality and Smoking Control in Healthcare Environments in Northern China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-13, February.
    5. Armando Pelliccioni & Paolo Monti & Giorgio Cattani & Fabio Boccuni & Marco Cacciani & Silvia Canepari & Pasquale Capone & Maria Catrambone & Mariacarmela Cusano & Maria Concetta D’Ovidio & Antonella , 2020. "Integrated Evaluation of Indoor Particulate Exposure: The VIEPI Project," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-25, November.
    6. Carla Balocco & Alessandro Colaianni, 2018. "Modelling of Reversible Plant System Operations in a Cultural Heritage School Building for Indoor Thermal Comfort," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-16, October.
    7. Gaetano Settimo & Luciana Indinnimeo & Marco Inglessis & Marco De Felice & Roberta Morlino & Annalisa di Coste & Alessandra Fratianni & Pasquale Avino, 2020. "Indoor Air Quality Levels in Schools: Role of Student Activities and No Activities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-17, September.
    8. Jolanda Palmisani & Alessia Di Gilio & Ezia Cisternino & Maria Tutino & Gianluigi de Gennaro, 2020. "Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions from a Personal Care Polymer-Based Item: Simulation of the Inhalation Exposure Scenario Indoors under Actual Conditions of Use," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-13, March.
    9. Vinh Van Tran & Duckshin Park & Young-Chul Lee, 2020. "Indoor Air Pollution, Related Human Diseases, and Recent Trends in the Control and Improvement of Indoor Air Quality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-27, April.
    10. Nuodi Fu & Moon Keun Kim & Bing Chen & Stephen Sharples, 2021. "Comparative Modelling Analysis of Air Pollutants, PM 2.5 and Energy Efficiency Using Three Ventilation Strategies in a High-Rise Building: A Case Study in Suzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-20, July.
    11. Carla Balocco & Alessandro Colaianni, 2018. "Assessment of Energy Sustainable Operations on a Historical Building. The Dante Alighieri High School in Florence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-24, June.

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