Indoor Nitrogen Dioxide Investigation and Health Risk Assessment in Primary Schools at Rayong city, Thailand

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Published: Jun 4, 2019
Keywords:
indoor air pollution; nitrogen dioxide; passive sampling; hazard quotient (HQ)

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Susira Bootdee*
Industrial Chemical Process and Environment Program, Faculty of Science, Energy and Environment, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (Rayong Campus), Rayong province, Thailand
Suganya Phantu
Industrial Chemical Process and Environment Program, Faculty of Science, Energy and Environment, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (Rayong Campus), Rayong province, Thailand
Pawit Lamlongrat
Industrial Chemical Process and Environment Program, Faculty of Science, Energy and Environment, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (Rayong Campus), Rayong province, Thailand
Thanin Khumphai
Industrial Chemical Process and Environment Program, Faculty of Science, Energy and Environment, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (Rayong Campus), Rayong province, Thailand

Abstract

Indoor air pollution in schools adversely affects children’s health due to the inhalation of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is a toxin released by motor vehicles. This research aims to measure NO2 levels around schools in an attempt to evaluate indoor air quality within the framework of a health risk assessment. Air samples were collected in schools from indoor and outdoor locations. The results for indoor NO2 concentrations in urban, industrial and rural areas ranged between 12.8 - 32.9, 11.7 - 36.6 and 7.0 - 17.5 µg/m3, while the values for outdoor areas ranged between 13.0 - 43.7, 15.5 - 37.6 and 10.1 - 32.6 µg/m3, respectively. The indoor NO2 concentrations measured in urban and industrial areas were significantly higher than those in rural areas (p<0.05), while the values for urban and industrial areas were not significantly different (p>0.05). The mean of indoor and outdoor NO2 concentrations were not significantly different (p>0.05) and these values were more significantly correlated (r = 0.526). Moreover, the values of NO2 concentrations and meteorological factors were not significantly correlated, thereby rejecting the hypothesis that meteorological factors might have affected indoor NO2 concentrations. These findings clearly stress the relationship that exists between NO2 concentrations and the level of local activity, for example traffic intensity. Hazard quotient (HQ) values indicated that human health risks linked to NO2 inhalation were of the low hazard type. It can be concluded that local activities played a significant role in the emission of NO2 and the level of indoor air quality in classrooms.

 


Keywords: indoor air pollution; nitrogen dioxide; passive sampling; hazard quotient (HQ)

*Corresponding author: Tel.: 66 83 570 4960


                                           E-mail: susira.b@sciee.kmutnb.ac.th

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 19 No. 3 (2019)
Section
Original Research Articles

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