Repository logo
 
Publication

Indoor air quality and thermal comfort-results of a pilot study in elderly care centers in Portugal

2013-03-20Journal article Restricted access
Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorMendes, A.
dc.contributor.authorPereira, C.
dc.contributor.authorMendes, D.
dc.contributor.authorAguiar, L.
dc.contributor.authorNeves, P.
dc.contributor.authorSilva, S.
dc.contributor.authorBatterman, S.
dc.contributor.authorTeixeira, João Paulo
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-11T11:31:05Z
dc.date.available2014-03-11T11:31:05Z
dc.date.issued2013-03-20
dc.description.abstractThe age of the European population is rising and percentage of adults aged 65 years and older is projected to increase from 16% in 2000 to 20% in 2020. It has been estimated that older subjects spend approximately 19 to 20 h/d indoors. Older individuals may be particularly at risk for detrimental effects from pollutants, even at low concentrations, due to reduced immunological defenses and multiple underlying chronic diseases. Six Porto, Portugal, urban area elderly care centers (ECC), housing a total of 425 older persons, were studied to assess indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort (TC) in two seasons. This study presents the IAQ and TC results in 36 rooms and constitutes part of a wider and ongoing study. The study areas were all naturally ventilated, and indoor concentrations in winter were within Portuguese reference values. However, 42% of the participants were dissatisfied with indoor thermal conditions, rating it "slightly cool." In summer, the index rate of dissatisfied individuals was lower (8%). Significant differences were found between seasons in predicted percent of dissatisfied people (PPD) and predicted mean vote (PMV) indices. Fungal concentrations frequently exceeded reference levels (>500 colony-forming units [CFU]/m(3)). In addition, other pollutants occasionally exceeded reference levels. To our knowledge, this is the first study in Portugal to assess effects of indoor air contaminants on the health status and quality of life in older subjects living in ECC. Although IAQ and TC parameters were mostly within reference values, the results suggest a need to improve the balance between IAQ and TC in ECC, a critical environment housing a susceptible population.por
dc.identifier.citationJ Toxicol Environ Health A. 2013;76(4-5):333-44por
dc.identifier.issn1528-7394
dc.identifier.otherdoi: 10.1080/15287394.2013.757213
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/2017
dc.language.isoengpor
dc.peerreviewedyespor
dc.publisherTaylor & Francispor
dc.relation.publisherversionhttp://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15287394.2013.757213por
dc.subjectElderly Care Centerspor
dc.subjectIndoor Air Qualitypor
dc.subjectAr e Saúde Ocupacionalpor
dc.titleIndoor air quality and thermal comfort-results of a pilot study in elderly care centers in Portugalpor
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.endPage344por
oaire.citation.startPage333por
oaire.citation.titleJournal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A: Current Issuespor
oaire.citation.volume76(4-5)por
rcaap.rightsrestrictedAccesspor
rcaap.typearticlepor

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
2013 JTEH Indoor Air and Thermal Comfort.pdf
Size:
365.15 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

DSA - Artigos em revistas internacionais