Chemical, Physical and Microbial Parameters inside a Research Building Environment

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Air pollution Research Dept., Environment & Climate Change Research Institute, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

In the frame of the strategic plan Egypt 2030 - a goal to create a supportive workplace environment. Indoor environment quality (IEQ) is an important factor to identify building's performance and comfort level. Key environmental parameters-related to IEQ of a multidisciplinary scientific research buildings were evaluated. Air biological (bacteria & fungi), chemical (PM, NO2, SO2, NH3, HCOH & VOCs) and physical (T°C, RH%, air velocity, noise, lighting & electromagnetic radiation) parameters were measured indoor/outdoor. The measurements were performed using integrated sampling and real-time portable data instruments. The 75th percentiles of airborne environmental bacteria, mesophilic bacteria and fungi were 5172 CFU/m3, 1294 CFU/m3 and 634 CFU/m3, respectively. Indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios of VOCs, NH3 and PM were ≥1. However, I/O ratios of HCOH, SO2 and NO2 were ≤ 1. Indoor temperature and relative humidity ranged between 17-35.6°C and 30-66.5%, respectively. Operative temperature averaged 23°C; it located within the comfort zone ≥20 −≤24°C in only ~ 43% of the investigated sites. Noise value exceeded the minimum acceptable level of 60 dBA in ~77.7% of sites. Lighting intensity did not achieve the minimum acceptable level of 300 lux in~ 48.5% of sites. The electric and magnetic strengths significantly fluctuated, ranging between 1-242 V/m and 0.5-437A/m, respectively. Thermal comfort, indoor air quality, noise and lighting are used to calculate IEQ index (IIEQ). IIEQ simulation revealed that the majority of the investigated sites had good IEQ conditions. IIEQ helps identify ways to improve building environment.

Keywords


Volume 66, Issue 13 - Serial Number 13
Special Issue: Applied Chemistry for Greener Life and Sustainability
December 2023
Pages 1489-1498
  • Receive Date: 20 March 2023
  • Revise Date: 21 May 2023
  • Accept Date: 02 June 2023