Assessment of Air Quality in Air-conditioned Buildings and Urban Buses
Dr. Manuel Belino
De La Salle University
1. Assessment of Chemical Contaminants and Particulate Matter and Improvement of Air Quality in Air-Conditioned Urban Buses
Abstract
The study assessed the quality of air in-airconditioned urban buses and recommended interventions on how to improve it. Specifically, the study had accomplished the following:
- Assessed the concentration of air contaminants in air-conditioned urban buses. The air contaminants assessed included both particulate matter (dust and carbon soot) and gases such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxides (SO2) and nitrogen dioxides (NO2)
- Recommended interventions on how to reduce the concentration of contaminants to acceptable level.
The analyses of the concentration of chemical contaminants found in the bus based on Canadian indoor air quality standards yielded the following:
- CO and CO2 concentrations were at acceptable levels.
- NO2, SO2 and benzene concentration exceeded the acceptable level.
- There was no trace of toluene in all samples collected.
- There was a decrease in the density of particulate matter found in the bus upon installation of a filter pad in the evaporator section of the air-conditioning system of the bus.
- There was a decrease in the level of concentration of chemical contaminants found in the bus upon installation of the activated-carbon filter in the evaporator section of the air-conditioning system of the bus.
Based on the above findings, the following conclusions are drawn:
- Mechanical intervention such as filtration which was used in the study had reduced the concentration of air contaminants found in the bus.
- The level of concentration of air contaminants found in the bus was higher than that of the outside environment.
2. Assessment of Indoor Air Quality of De La Salle University-Manila Library Building
Abstract
The possibility of a higher concentration of air contaminants in air-conditioned buildings than the outside air is not remote. These contaminants pose health problems to the building occupants such as respiratory ailments (colds, cough, pneumonitis, asthma and allergic rhinitis, eye irritation and skin allergies). Air-conditioned buildings, therefore, should not only provide a comfortable environment but also a healthy environment. Providing such an environment requires assessment and improvement of air quality. This paper presents the results of the air quality investigation of De La Salle University (DLSU) � Manila library building which includes assessment of chemical contaminants and particulate matter, and survey of indoor air quality (IAQ) health-related problems of the building occupants. Recommendations on how to improve the quality of air in such building are also presented.
