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Environmental and ventilation assessment in Child Day Care Centers in Porto: the ENVIRH Project

dc.contributor.authorMendes, Ana
dc.contributor.authorAelenei, Daniel
dc.contributor.authorPapoila, Ana Luísa
dc.contributor.authorCarreiro-Martins, Pedro
dc.contributor.authorAguiar, Lívia
dc.contributor.authorPereira, Cristiana
dc.contributor.authorNeves, Paula
dc.contributor.authorAzevedo, Susana
dc.contributor.authorCano, Manuela
dc.contributor.authorProença, Carmo
dc.contributor.authorViegas, João
dc.contributor.authorSilva, Susana
dc.contributor.authorMendes, Diana
dc.contributor.authorNeuparth, Nuno
dc.contributor.authorTeixeira, João Paulo
dc.date.accessioned2015-02-03T15:31:02Z
dc.date.available2015-02-03T15:31:02Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractChildren 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.por
dc.description.sponsorshipOur research is supported by ENVIRH Project (www.envirh.fcm.unl.pt): PTDC/SAUESA/100275/2008, and a PhD grant (SFRH/ BD/72399/2010) from the Foundation for Science and Technology (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, FCT).por
dc.identifier.citationJ Toxicol Environ Health A. 2014;77(14-16):931-43. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2014.911134.por
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/15287394.2014.911134
dc.identifier.issn1528-7394
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/2758
dc.language.isoengpor
dc.peerreviewedyespor
dc.publisherTaylor & Francis: STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titlespor
dc.relationENVIRH : PTDC/SAU-ESA/100275/2008por
dc.relation.publisherversionhttp://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15287394.2014.911134#tabModulepor
dc.subjectIndoor Air Qualitypor
dc.subjectCild Day Care Centerspor
dc.subjectPortopor
dc.subjectPortugalpor
dc.subjectAr e Saúde Ocupacionalpor
dc.titleEnvironmental and ventilation assessment in Child Day Care Centers in Porto: the ENVIRH Projectpor
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.endPage943por
oaire.citation.startPage931por
oaire.citation.titleJournal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A: Current Issuespor
oaire.citation.volume77(14-16)por
rcaap.rightsembargoedAccesspor
rcaap.typearticlepor

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