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Published on: January 7, 2019
Indoor air quality differences between urban and rural preschools in Korea
Chungsik Yoon1, Kiyoung Lee, Donguk Park
1Department of Environmental Health, Seoul National University, 599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, South Korea. csyoon@snu.ac.kr
Insights
Preschool indoor air quality (IAQ) in urban Korean settings had higher pollutant levels than rural areas. These findings highlight potential health risks for young children due to increased indoor exposure.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Health
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Preschool indoor air quality (IAQ) is crucial as young children spend significant time indoors and are more susceptible to pollutants.
- Preschools represent the initial social environment for children, making their air quality a primary concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare indoor air quality in Korean preschools situated in urban versus rural locations.
- To investigate concentrations of airborne particulates and gaseous materials within these environments.
Main Methods:
- Measured airborne concentrations of total suspended particulates, respirable particulates, lead, asbestos, total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, and CO2 in 71 classrooms across 17 Korean preschools.
- Simultaneously sampled outdoor air for comparison with indoor air quality data.
- Utilized National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analytical methods.
Main Results:
- Indoor and urban settings exhibited higher pollutant concentrations than outdoor and rural areas, respectively.
- Total dust concentrations were highest in urban indoor settings, with indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios of 1.37 (urban) and 1.35 (rural).
- Higher I/O ratios for total VOCs (2.29 urban, 2.52 rural) and formaldehyde (higher in rural due to low outdoor levels) indicated significant indoor sources.
Conclusions:
- Indoor air quality in preschools, particularly in urban areas, is characterized by elevated levels of various pollutants compared to outdoor environments.
- The study confirms the presence of numerous indoor sources contributing to elevated pollutant levels in preschools.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing preschool IAQ for potential health effects and intervention strategies, given children's vulnerability and time spent indoors.
Background, Aims, And Scope:
Preschool indoor air quality (IAQ) is believed to be different from elementary school or higher school IAQ and preschool is the first place for social activity. Younger children are more susceptible than higher-grade children and spend more time indoors. The purpose of this study was to compare the indoor air quality by investigating the concentrations of airborne particulates and gaseous materials at preschools in urban and rural locations in Korea.
Methods:
We investigated the concentrations of airborne particulates and gaseous materials in 71 classrooms at 17 Korean preschools. For comparison, outdoor air was sampled simultaneously with indoor air samples. Airborne concentrations of total suspended particulates, respirable particulates, lead, asbestos, total volatile organic compounds and components, formaldehyde, and CO(2) were measured with National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and/or Environmental Protection Agency analytical methods.
Results:
The concentration profiles of the investigated pollutants in indoor and urban settings were higher than those in outdoor and rural areas, respectively. The ratios of indoor/outdoor concentrations (I/O) of particulates and gaseous pollutants were characterized in urban and rural preschools. Total dust concentration was highest in urban indoor settings followed by urban outdoor, rural indoor, and rural outdoor locations with an I/O ratio of 1.37 in urban and 1.35 in rural areas. Although I/O ratios of lead were close to 1, lead concentrations were much higher in urban than in rural areas. The I/O ratio of total VOCs was 2.29 in urban and 2.52 in rural areas, with the highest level in urban indoor settings. The I/O ratio of formaldehyde concentrations was higher in rural than in urban areas because the outdoor rural level was much lower than the urban concentration. Since an I/O ratio higher than 1 implies the presence of indoor sources, we concluded that there are many indoor sources in preschools.
Conclusions:
We confirmed that pollutants in indoor and urban settings were higher than those in outdoor and rural areas, respectively. Preschool children are expected to spend more time inside preschool facilities and therefore to be more exposed to pollutants. As far as we know, preschool IAQ is different from elementary school or higher school IAQ. Also, they are more vulnerable than higher-grade children. We found that the indoor and urban concentration profiles of the studied pollutants in preschools were higher than those in outdoor and rural areas. We believe that our findings may be useful for understanding the potential health effects of exposure and intervention studies in preschools.
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