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Research Details

Research Project:Characterization and Measurement of Air Quality in Outdoor/Indoor Spaces (Project 1)
Research Title Assessment of Indoor Air Quality Parameters in Selected Laboratories of Mariano Marcos State University (Study 1)
Researcher(s) Floramante Pastor, Arlene Gonzales, Honeylou Farinas
Research Category Study
Research Status completed
Duration Jan 01, 2012 to Dec 31, 2015
Commodity Environment
Research Site(s)
Source of Fund(s)
Brief Description
This is the Study 1 of the project "Characterization and Measurement of Air Quality in Outdoor/Indoor Spaces".

This study will entail the following sequence of activities:

  1. Selection of candidate laboratories for investigation
  2. Characterization of the ventilation and air conditioning systems of selected laboratories
  3. Characterization of the activities and/or processes that may influence indoor air quality in the selected laboratories
  4. Monitoring of thermal and air quality parameters in those laboratories
  5. Recommend possible abatement measures if needed.
Parameters to be gathered and method of measurement:
  • Dust concentration - gravimetric method and continuous dust monitor
  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentration - detector tubes and continuous total VOC analyzer
  • CO2 concentration - non-dispersive infrared analyzer and detector tubes
  • Odor - nasal ranger
  • Temperature/Relative Humidity - psychrometer and Hobo data T/RH logger
  • Bio-aerosol concentration - filtration combined with the culture method
Frequency of measurement
  • Twice per month for four months (8x)
Taken from the Terminal Report:
 
Significance of this Study:
This study will provide the university information that can lead to a well-defined plan to better address occupational safety to its employees and students. With the data of this study, all concerned individual can have a basis to implement improvements to its indoor air environments thru good building practice, storage and disposal practices, material use and good laboratory practice.
 
Methodology:
1. Selection of Sampling Sites (laboratories)
 
Laboratories subjected for the study were identified based on their potential to contain inddor air pollutants because of various activities and materials present in the area. The following laboratories listed were selected:
 
Botany and Zoology lab - College of Arts and Sciences
Chemistry Lab - College of Arts and Sciences
Soil-Water Laboratory - Crops Research Laboratory
Microbiology Laboratory - College of Arts and Sciences
Printing - Administration Building
 
Measurement of TVOCs (Total Volatile Organic Compounds), Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide.
  • A portable gas analyzer containing various gas sensors (PID) were used to monitor the presence of TVOCs. Gas measurements were limited to the available VOC gas sensors expressed in parts ppm/ppb/mg/m3 in relation to the calibration gas.
  • Indoor CO2 concentrations inside laboratories were determined using the Q-Trak Indoor Air Quality Monitor 7575 equipment. It simultaneously displays CO2 CO, temperature and humidity measurements. Sampling and measurements were done as instructed in the product user guide.
A real time sampling monitoring was employed in each of the identified sampling sites to determine the extent of gas concentrations inside the work area/laboratory rooms and determine factors that may influence the gas readings such as temperature and relative humidity.
 
Analysis of Data:
Information on the description of the physical set-up of the offices were compared to standard value. Since there are no existing standard values for indoor pollutants in the Philippines, the criterion on WHO, EPA, and European Standards were used.
 
Conclusion:
 
MMSU laboratories showed no accumulation of indoor air pollutants except in Botany Laboratory which showed a higher amount of TVOC as compared to the standard value prescribed by Asuncion 2010. All the other laboratory rooms showed only traces of gases coming from varying sources were detected by the instruments. maintaining good air ventilation in the different laboratory rooms such as opening of windows, presence of ceiling and exhaust fans help eliminate the air inside the rooms.
 
Recommendation:
 
Based from the preliminary result of this study, the following are recommended:
1. Offices should also be included for the assessment of indoor air quality.
2. There should be a bi-annual monitoring of indoor air quality to offices, classrooms and laboratories to maintain a good Occupational, Health and Safety Program of the University.
 
Expected Output
Enhanced measurement on indoor and outdoor air quality
Abstract Not Available