title: [Exploratory study of air quality in elementary schools, Coimbra, Portugal].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the air quality in elementary schools and their structural and functional conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Air quality in 51 elementary schools (81 classrooms) in the city of Coimbra, Portugal, both inside and outside of the rooms was evaluated during the four seasons, from 2010 to 2011. Temperature (T°), relative humidity (Hr), concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), compounds were evaluated, as were volatile organics (VOC), formaldehyde and particulate matter (PM10), from November 2010 to February 2011 (autumn/winter) and March 2011 to June 2011 (spring/summer). A grid characterizing the structural and functional conditions of the schools was created. The statistical Student t test for paired samples and the Wilcoxon t test were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 47 schools, the average CO2 concentrations were above the maximum reference concentration (984 ppm) mentioned in Portuguese legislation. The maximum concentration values found inside the rooms were critical, especially in the fall/winter (5,320 ppm). In some schools the average concentrations of VOC and PM10 within the maximum concentration exceeded the reference legislated. The values (risk) of CO, formaldehyde, NO2, SO2 and O3 detected were not relevant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a higher concentration of pollutants inside the rooms compared with outside. Inadequate ventilation is associated with high CO2 concentration in the classroom.
authors.forename: Ana Maria Conceiçã
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Salvador Massano
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D011174:Portugal; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide