Assessment of Indoor Environmental Quality in Elderly Care Centers

The aim of this study was to characterize indoor environmental quality in a representative sample of Elderly Care Centers (ECC) in order to associate it with ventilation, health and comfort of elderly people. Indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters and thermal comfort were measured twice, during winter and spring/summer seasons, from 18 Elderly Care Centers (ECC) located in Lisbon, with a total of 116 rooms evaluated. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide were monitored during occupation periods using the Indoor Air Quality Meter (TSI, model 7545, USA). Formaldehyde was collected by active sampling on impingers, using personal pumps at an airflow of 1L/min and analyzed according to NIOSH 3500 method, using visible spectrometry (UV4, UNICAM). PM10 and PM2,5 were collected by active sampling on pre-weighted PTFE filters mounted on PM10 and PM2,5 collectors (PEM, SKC), using personal pumps operating at 2L/min, followed by gravimetric analysis for particle mass according to the method IP-10A by SKC (2004). Duplicate samples of total volatile organic compounds were collected on TENAX Tubes (Ref. 25054, Supelco) using SKC personal pumps calibrated to 0.05 L/min and analyzed after thermal desorption according to ISO 16000-part 6 using gas chromatography. Duplicate samples of viable airborne bacteria and fungi were collected using the Microbiological Air Sampler (Merck) and TSA, McK and MEA for total bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, respectively. Whole-body thermal comfort evaluation was based on PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) and PPD (Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfied) indices, according to the ISO 7730:2005. Considering the obtained results for environmental indoor quality it is possible to conclude that thermal comfort was not reached in more than 30% of the rooms. In winter, carbon dioxide concentrations were above the reference in 20% of the rooms. PM10 and PM2,5 mean concentrations were above the reference levels in approximately 25% and 30% of the rooms, respectively. Microbiological contamination (total bacteria and fungi) was above the reference levels in more than 35% of the rooms. Indoor environmental quality should be improved by controlling contamination sources, ventilation and thermal parameters (or clothing) in order to obtain healthier environments for the elderly.