Assessment of indoor air quality in a primary school

Indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools is important as it directly affects the health, comfort, and learning ability of students and staff. This study assessed the IAQ in ten rooms at St. Peters Catholic Primary School, Sittingbourne, Kent, between February and March 2024. A portable uHoo business air quality monitor was used to assess ambient temperature, relative humidity, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀). The air quality index results revealed means of: temperature (18.45 ± 2.23 °C), relative humidity (57.59 ± 4.32%), CO (0.14 ± 0.11 ppm), CO₂ (737.20 ± 346.87 ppm), TVOC (2148.62 ± 5456.78 ppb), formaldehyde (18.68 ± 67.67 ppb), PM₂.₅ (5.82 ± 2.31 µg/m³), and PM₁₀(11.23 ± 2.71 µg/m³). The results revealed variations in the diurnal variations in particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) during school hours and significant differences at 10.00 am break time (7.9 µg/mm³ and 13.3 µg/m³), noon lunch time (7.8 µg/m³ and 12.9 µg/m³) and 3.00 pm end of school (7.5 µg/m³, 12.5 µg/m³). This study concludes that PM in this school is, primarily, driven by PM in the local area, not the school. All parameters were within permissible limits, except for TVOC. The school's management should adopt proactive measures, including routine IAQ assessments. This will allow the school to cultivate healthier environments that foster academic excellence.