A systematic review of ventilation conditions and airborne particulate matter levels in urban offices

Data de publicação:

Autores da FMUP

  • André Miguel Afonso De Sousa Moreira

    Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

  • Felgueiras, F
  • Mourao, Z
  • Gabriel, MF

Unidades de investigação

Abstract

Many working activities are carried out in office buildings that are located in urban areas. Several studies have shown that these workplaces are likely to present poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) due to inadequate ventilation rates, compromised thermal comfort conditions, and/or high concentration of air pollutants, such as particulate matter. This study aimed to review ventilation conditions, based on carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations, and indoor airborne particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) levels assessed in offices worldwide. The approach carried out in this work followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Six databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Inspec, Science Direct, and Dimensions) were used to search for peer-reviewed articles on the subject of IEQ, in particular, those reporting data for the levels of CO2 and particulate matter in offices, published during the last decade. Firstly, 394 records were identified, resulting in 23 articles included in the review after the screening process and the implementation of eligibility criteria. Based on the results and considering the mean concentration reported, office environments present, in general, acceptable ventilation conditions (mean: 665 ppm). However, the few cases of studies that reported CO2 values exceeding 1000 ppm identified situations of high occupancy density and inadequate operation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems as the unequivocal causative factors. In turn, PM2.5 and PM10 seemed to be IEQ parameters that are even more critical to be tackled in offices, with the reported overall mean values (36 and 63 mu g/m(3)) exceeding the current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines (15 and 45 mu g/m(3)). The highest aerosol concentrations were typically found in naturally ventilated buildings and were mostly associated with the influence of high levels of particles introduced indoors through the outdoor air. Overall, measures for improving IEQ in offices toward promoting healthy and safe environments for workers include strategies to periodically control IEQ, ensure the adequate percentage of fresh air and maintenance of the mechanical ventilation systems (operation, maintenance, and air filtration efficiency), and adjust occupancy to the room dimensions and ventilation conditions.

Dados da publicação

ISSN/ISSNe:
1600-0668, 1600-0668

Indoor Air  Blackwell Munksgaard

Tipo:
Review
Páginas:
-
Link para outro recurso:
www.scopus.com

Citações Recebidas na Web of Science: 1

Citações Recebidas na Scopus: 8

Documentos

  • Não há documentos

Métricas

Filiações mostrar / ocultar

Keywords

  • carbon dioxide; indoor environmental quality; occupational exposure; office buildings; particulate matter

Campos de estudo

Financiamento

Proyectos asociados

Airborne food and aeroallergens levels in healthcare settings. An unaccounted but potentially relevant source of exposure?

Investigador Principal: André Miguel Afonso de Sousa Moreira

Estudo Clínico Académico (Aeroallergens) . 2020

Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) correlates with eosinophil cell counts in the induced sputum of elite swimmers

Investigador Principal: André Miguel Afonso de Sousa Moreira

Estudo Clínico Académico (ECP) . 2021

How exercise, physical activity and diet modulate immune and stress responses

Investigador Principal: André Miguel Afonso de Sousa Moreira

Estudo Clínico Académico . 2020

Citar a publicação

Partilhar a publicação