Indoor Air Quality in Schools and Health Symptoms among Portuguese Teachers

• Tipo: Artigo em Revista Científica Internacional
• Data: 2009

Autores

Madureira, J (Autor) Outra; Alvim Ferraz, MCM (Autor) Outra; Rodrigues, S (Autor) Outra; Goncalves, C (Autor) Outra; Azevedo, MC (Autor) Outra; Pinto, E (Autor) FFUP; Mayan, O (Autor) Outra

Revista

Título: Human and Ecological Risk Assessment (HERA)

Vol. 15

Páginas: 159-169

ISSN: 1080-7039

Editora: Taylor & Francis

Indexação

ISI Web of Knowledge - 53 Citações

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 63 Citações

Classificação Científica

FOS: Ciências exactas e naturais > Ciências biológicas

CORDIS: Ciências Tecnológicas > Engenharia

Outras Informações

ID Authenticus: P-003-Q8S

DOI: 10.1080/10807030802615881

Abstract (EN): The purpose of this study was: (i) to characterize the school indoor environment; (ii) to evaluate self-reported prevalence of disease symptoms among Portuguese teachers; and (iii) to evaluate, as far as we know for the first time in Portugal, the impact of the indoor air quality of schools on the prevalence of disease symptoms among teachers. The study was performed in the city of Oporto, starting in 2004; it included the analysis of questionnaires fulfilled by schoolteachers (n = 177), walkthrough surveys of schools grounds, buildings, and individual classrooms (n = 76), as well as indoor air monitoring. Respirable particle increase was related to chalk use and CO(2) concentrations widely exceeded reference values. Schools located near traffic lines presented higher benzene and toluene concentrations. The guideline for total viable microorganism concentration was exceeded in 35.6% of classrooms. Significant increases in disease symptoms among teachers could be related to poor indoor air quality, which was mainly due to inefficient ventilation and influence of traffic emissions. Statistically significant correlations were found between central nervous system injuries and the levels of CO(2) and total volatile organic compounds, and between upper respiratory problems and mucosal irritation and the levels of TVOC and respirable particles.

Idioma: Inglês

Tipo (Avaliação Docente): Científica

Nº de páginas: 11