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Indoor Air Quality Assessment of Elementary Schools in Curitiba, Brazil

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution: Focus

Abstract

The promotion of good indoor air quality in schools is of particular public concern for two main reasons: (1) school-age children spend at least 30% of their time inside classrooms and (2) indoor air quality in urban areas is substantially influenced by the outdoor pollutants, exposing tenants to potentially toxic substances. Two schools in Curitiba, Brazil, were selected to characterize the gaseous compounds indoor and outdoor of the classrooms. The concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the isomers xylenes (BTEX); NO2; SO2; O3; acetic acid (HAc); and formic acid (HFor) were assessed using passive diffusion tubes. BTEX were analyzed by gas chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry and other collected gasses by ion chromatography. The concentration of NO2 varied between 9.5 and 23 µg m−3, whereas SO2 showed an interval from 0.1 to 4.8 µg m−3. Within the schools, BTEX concentrations were predominant. Formic and acetic acids inside the classrooms revealed intermediate concentrations of 1.5 µg m−3 and 1.2 µg m−3, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil

    R. H. M. Godoi & A. F. L. Godoi

  2. Centro Universitário Positivo, UnicenP, Curitiba, PR, Brazil

    D. Avigo Jr

  3. Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil

    V. P. Campos & T. M. Tavares

  4. Analytical Chemistry Department, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil

    M. R. R. de Marchi

  5. Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium

    R. Van Grieken

Authors
  1. R. H. M. Godoi
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  2. D. Avigo Jr
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  3. V. P. Campos
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  4. T. M. Tavares
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  5. M. R. R. de Marchi
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  6. R. Van Grieken
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  7. A. F. L. Godoi
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Correspondence to R. H. M. Godoi.

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Godoi, R.H.M., Avigo, D., Campos, V.P. et al. Indoor Air Quality Assessment of Elementary Schools in Curitiba, Brazil. Water Air Soil Pollut: Focus 9, 171–177 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11267-009-9220-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11267-009-9220-3

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