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Assessment of indoor environment in Paris child day care centers
Célina Roda1, Sophie Barral, Hanitriniala Ravelomanantsoa
1Université Paris Descartes, EA 4064-Laboratoire Santé Publique et Environnement, Paris, France.
Insights
Indoor air quality in Paris child care centers shows elevated endotoxin and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels compared to homes. Other pollutant levels were generally low, indicating specific areas for improvement in these sensitive environments.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Health
- Indoor Air Quality
Background:
- Children's heightened sensitivity to indoor environmental pollution is recognized.
- Limited data exists on air quality within child day care centers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess and document the indoor environmental quality of Paris child day care centers through repeated measurements.
- To compare pollutant levels in child day care centers with those found in Paris dwellings.
Main Methods:
- 28 child day care centers were monitored over one week, twice annually.
- Assessed biological contaminants (fungi, endotoxin, dust mite allergens) and chemical pollutants (aldehydes, VOCs, NO2).
- Measured relative humidity, temperature, CO2, and collected building/occupant data via questionnaire.
Main Results:
- Child day care centers exhibited higher airborne endotoxin levels than Paris dwellings.
- Dust mite allergen levels were generally below sensitization thresholds and comparable to dwellings.
- Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels were significantly higher in child day care centers than in homes.
Conclusions:
- Indoor air quality in child day care centers is generally low, with notable exceptions of endotoxin and NO2.
- Excluding child day care center exposure may lead to overestimating children's overall pollutant exposure.
Background:
Children are sensitive to indoor environmental pollution. Up until now there has been a lack of data on air quality in child day care centers.
Objectives:
The aim of this study is to document the indoor environment quality of Paris child day care centers by repeated measurements, and to compare pollutant levels in child day care centers with levels in Paris dwellings.
Methods:
We selected 28 child day care centers frequented by a random sample of babies who participated in the PARIS birth cohort environmental investigation, and visited the child day care centers for one week twice in one year. Biological contaminants assessed were fungi, endotoxin, dust mite allergens, and chemical pollutants: aldehydes, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Relative humidity, temperature, and carbon dioxide levels were measured simultaneously. A standardized questionnaire was used to gather information about the buildings and their inhabitants.
Results:
Airborne endotoxin levels in child day care centers were higher than those found in Paris dwellings. Dust mite allergens in child day care centers were below the threshold level for sensitization in the majority of samples, and in common with dwelling samples. Penicillium and Cladosporium were the most commonly identified genera fungi. The child day care center indoor/outdoor ratio for most chemical pollutants was above unity except for NO2, the levels for NO2 being significantly higher than those measured in homes.
Conclusion:
Chemical and biological contamination in child day care centers appears to be low, apart from endotoxin and NO2. Failure to take child exposure in child day care centers into account could result in an overestimation of children's exposure to other pollutants.
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