title: Environmental and ventilation assessment in Child Day Care Centers in Porto: the ENVIRH Project.
abstract: Children attending day care centers (CDCC) have been reported to be more prone to infectious diseases when compared with those cared for at home, and are exposed to conditions that may increase the risk of allergies and asthma. Several studies revealed that consequences of poor ventilation conditions include high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and many other indoor pollutants commonly detected in schools. Nine child day care centers were selected randomly to participate in this study. Fifty-two classrooms were assessed for chemical, biological, physical, and allergen parameters in spring and winter seasons in these nine CDCC located in Porto, Portugal. Outdoor measurements were also conducted for comparison. Our results indicated that (i) particulate matter (PM10) median levels were above the national reference levels, both by classroom type and by season; (ii) TVOC kindergarten peak values may raise some concern; (iii) CO2 was present at high median and maximum levels during spring and winter assessment in both nurseries and kindergartens classrooms; (iv) total bacteria concentrations were 57- and 52-fold higher in the nursery and kindergarten than outdoors, respectively, for the spring season; (v) winter and spring median predicted mean vote (PMV) indices were between "neutral" (0) and "slightly cool" (≤ -1) in the thermal sensation scale for comfort situations (-2 to 2) for both types of classrooms; (vi) there were significant differences for both PMV and predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) indices by season; and (vii) CO2, total bacteria, and gram-negative bacteria were associated with low airflow rates. These data will help to evaluate the effectiveness of current building operation practices in child day care centers regarding indoor air quality and respiratory health.
authors: a Environmental Health Department , Portuguese National Health Institute Doutor Ricardo Jorge , Porto , Portugal.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Mendes
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Aelenei
authors: Ana Luísa
authors: AL
authors: Papoila
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Carreiro-Martins
authors: Lívia
authors: L
authors: Aguiar
authors: Cristiana
authors: C
authors: Pereira
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Neves
authors: Susana
authors: S
authors: Azevedo
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Cano
authors: Carmo
authors: C
authors: Proença
authors: João
authors: J
authors: Viegas
authors: Susana
authors: S
authors: Silva
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Mendes
authors: Nuno
authors: N
authors: Neuparth
authors: João Paulo
authors: JP
authors: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D011174:Portugal; D012621:Seasons; D014691:Ventilation
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens; D052638:Particulate Matter; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D002248:Carbon Monoxide