Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases demonstration project: aerosol pollution and its seasonal peculiarities in primary schools of Vilnius.
10.1097/CM9.0000000000000913
- VernacularTitle:Global Alliance against Chronic Respiratory Diseases demonstration project: aerosol pollution and its seasonal peculiarities in primary schools of Vilnius
- Author:
Nina PROKOPCIUK
1
;
Ulrich FRANCK
2
;
Vadimas DUDOITIS
1
;
Nikolaj TARASIUK
1
;
Izabele JUSKIENE
3
;
Daiva CEPURAITE
4
;
Kestutis STARAS
5
;
Algirdas VALIULIS
6
;
Vidmantas ULEVICIUS
1
;
Arunas VALIULIS
3
Author Information
1. Department of Environmental Research, SRI Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Vilnius, LT-02300, Lithuania.
2. Department of Environmental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, GE-04318, Germany.
3. Department of Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, and Department of Children's Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, LT-03101, Lithuania.
4. Department of Public Administration, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius Centro Outpatient Clinic, Vilnius, LT-01117, Lithuania.
5. Department of Public Health, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius Centro Outpatient Clinic, Vilnius, LT-01117, Lithuania.
6. Department of Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine, Vilnius University Medical Faculty, Institute of Health Sciences, Vilnius, LT-03101, Lithuania.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Chinese Medical Journal
2020;133(13):1516-1525
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND:The growing public health concern caused by non-communicable diseases in urban surroundings cannot be solved by health care alone; therefore a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory. This study aimed to evaluate the airborne aerosol pollution level in primary schools as possible factor influencing origin and course of the diseases in children.
METHODS:Seasonal aerosol particle number concentration (PNC) and mass concentration (PMC) were studied in the randomly selected eleven primary schools in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, as model of a middle-size Eastern European city. Total PNC in the size range from 0.01 to >1.0 μm in diameter was measured using a condensation particle counter. Using an optical particle sizer, PNC was measured and PMC estimated for particles from 0.3 to 10.0 μm. A descriptive statistics was used to estimate the aerosol pollution levels.
RESULTS:During all seasons, local cafeterias in the absence of ventilation were the main sources of the elevated levels of indoor PMC and PNC (up to 97,500 particles/cm). The other sources of airborne particulates were the children's activity during the lesson breaks with PMC up to 586 μg/m. Soft furniture, carpets in the classrooms and corridors were responsible for PMC up to 200 μg/m. Outdoor aerosol pollution (up to 18,170 particles/cm) was higher for schools in city center. Elevated air pollution in classrooms also resulted from intermittent sources, such as construction work during classes (200-1000 μg/m) and petrol-powered lawn trimmers (up to 66,400 particles/cm).
CONCLUSION:The results of our survey show that even in a relatively low polluted region of Eastern Europe there are big differences in aerosol pollution within middle-sized city. Additional efforts are needed to improve air quality in schools: more frequent wet cleaning, monitoring the operation of ventilation systems, a ban on construction works during school year, on a use of sandblasting mechanisms in the neighborhood of schools.
