Qualidade do ar interior em escolas do 1º ciclo de Lisboa e Aveiro

Doutoramento em Ciências e Engenharia do AmbienteTem havido uma preocupação crescente com a qualidade do ar interior (QAI) nas escolas em muitos países. Muitos estudos epidemiológicos têm encontrado diferenças regionais entre ambientes interiores. Apesar da elevada incidência de asma e rinite na população infantil, praticamente nada se sabia sobre a QAI em escolas portuguesas. A percepção dos problemas de QAI é crucial para avaliar os riscos para a saúde e rendimento dos estudantes, e para sugerir meios de reduzir a exposição a poluentes indesejáveis. Neste estudo procurou-se obter as concentrações de poluentes de interesse em estabelecimentos de ensino do 1º ciclo de Lisboa e Aveiro, estimar o estado atual de casos de asma e rinite em escolas primárias da capital, avaliar a influência de diferentes materiais das salas de aula/construção e hábitos escolares na QAI, identificar potenciais fontes de poluentes nos interiores e exteriores das salas de aula e propor medidas mitigadoras. Catorze escolas de Lisboa foram visitadas para obter a caracterização física das construções em termos de estrutura, ventilação, materiais de acabamento, produtos de limpeza, densidade de ocupação e potenciais fontes interiores de poluição. Os estudantes foram questionados sobre os seus hábitos e sintomas respiratórios através de inquéritos do modelo ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood). Durante a primavera, outono e inverno (2008-2010), nas salas de aula e pátios, foram monitorizados, por amostragem passiva, compostos orgânicos voláteis (COVs), carbonilos e dióxido de azoto (NO2). Foram também medidos parâmetros de conforto e níveis de microrganismos. Duas escolas localizadas, uma no centro da cidade e outra na região suburbana, em Aveiro foram estudadas em 2010. Parâmetros de conforto, microrganismos, COVs, NO2, material particulado (PM10) foram medidos no interior e no exterior de ambas escolas. Os iões solúveis, carbono orgânico e elementar (OC e EC), e compostos orgânicos presentes no material particulado foram subsequentemente analisados em laboratório. Uma medida mitigadora - fitoremediação - foi avaliada na escola do centro da cidade de Aveiro em 2011. Os resultados do estudo mostraram que a QAI é pior do que a do ar exterior. Em geral, os níveis de CO2 e dos bioaerosóis excederam os níveis máximos aceitáveis para o conforto dos ocupantes estipulado pelas regulamentações portuguesas. Quase todos os COVs e carbonilos identificados mostraram razões interior/exterior (I/E) maiores que uma unidade, o que demonstra a importante contribuição de fontes interiores em todas as escolas. As razões I/E das concentrações de NO2 nunca excederam a unidade. Os níveis interiores diários de PM10 foram sempre maiores que os exteriores, exceto nos fins de semana. Após a colocação de plantas numa das salas de aula, observou-se uma redução estatisticamente significativa nos níveis de CO2, COVs, carbonilos, PM10, OC, e dos iões nitrato, sulfato, amónia, cálcio e carbonato. A possível redução dos níveis de poluentes no interior após a colocação de plantas pode representar uma solução de baixo custo para reduzir a exposição a muitos compostos, melhorar o rendimento e aumentar o bem estar dos alunos e professores em sala de aula.There is a growing concern about indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools in many countries. Most epidemiological studies have found significant differences among indoor environments from different regions. Despite the high incidence of asthma and rhinitis in children, virtually nothing was known about the IAQ in Portuguese schools. The perception of IAQ problems is crucial to assess health risks and students’ performance, and to suggest ways to reduce the exposure of children to undesirable pollutants. The main purpose of this study was to obtain the concentrations of pollutants of interest in Lisbon and Aveiro schools, to estimate the actual state for asthma/rhinitis in Lisbon’s primary school population, to evaluate the influence of outdoor environment on indoor air, to evaluate the influence of different classroom/building materials and school habits on IAQ, to evaluate the relevance of both indoor and outdoor air quality to the incidence of respiratory symptoms and students’ performance, to identify potential outdoor/indoor pollutant sources, and to propose mitigation measures. Fourteen schools of Lisbon city were visited to obtain the physical characterisation of the buildings in terms of structure, ventilation, furniture materials, cleaning products, occupant density, and potential indoor pollutant sources. Students were questioned about habits and respiratory symptoms through ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) surveys. During spring, autumn and winter seasons (2008-2010), classrooms and playgrounds were monitored by volatile organic compound (VOC), carbonyl and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) passive sampling. Comfort parameters and microorganisms were also measured. Two schools located in Aveiro, one at the city centre and another on the outskirts of the city, were the target of the study in 2010. Comfort parameters, microorganisms, VOCs, NO2 and particulate matter (PM10) were measured inside and outside of both schools. The soluble ions, organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) and organic compounds in particulate matter were subsequently analysed in the laboratory. A mitigation measure – phytoremediation - was evaluated at the city centre Aveiro school in 2011. The results of this study showed that IAQ is worse than outdoor air. Generally, the CO2 and bioaerosol levels were higher than the acceptable maximum values stipulated by the Portuguese regulations. Almost all identified VOCs and carbonyls showed indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios higher than one, which denotes an important contribution from indoor sources at all schools. In general, the I/O NO2 ratios never exceeded the unity. The daily indoor PM10 levels were always higher than those outdoors, except on weekends. After the placement of potted-plants in one classroom, a statistically significant reduction in the levels of CO2, VOCs, carbonyls, PM10, organic carbon, and ions (nitrate, sulphate, ammonia, calcium, and carbonate) was observed. The use of plants may represent a low-cost solution to reduce exposure to many compounds and lifetime risk, and to further improve performance, attendance and welfare of students and teachers in classrooms

Internet: novas possibilidades de publicidade

A publicidade é uma das ferramentas de promoção mais utilizadas para a divulgação de produtos, serviços e marcas dentro do marketing. Sua história está atrelada ao desenvolvimento técnico dos meios de comunicação. Os primeiros, como a mídia impressa, rádio e televisão, são denominados meios tradicionais e ainda hoje possuem a maior parte do investimento publicitário das empresas, principalmente por abrangerem a maior parte da população brasileira. No século XX, surge a Internet e une o áudio e a imagem, de qualquer parte do mundo, disponível a qualquer hora, em um único equipamento com um grande diferencial: a possibilidade de interação do usuário. É este novo meio que questiona as velhas formas de fazer propaganda. A interatividade e colaboração dos internautas fazem da Web seu diferencial entre os outros meios e garante seu espaço no mercado publicitário. Aliada aos outros meios tradicionais é possível desenvolver grandes campanhas e obter os resultados

Outdoor/indoor air quality in primary schools in Lisbon: a preliminary study

Simultaneous measurements of outdoor and indoor pollution were performed at three schools in Lisbon. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde and NO2 were passively monitored over a two-week period. Bacterial and fungal colony-forming units and comfort parameters were also monitored at classrooms and playgrounds. The highest indoor levels of CO2 (2666 µg/m3), NO2 (40.3 µg/m3), VOCs (10.3 µg/m3), formaldehyde (1.03 µg/m3) and bioaerosols (1634 CFU/m3), and some indoor/outdoor ratios greater than unity, suggest that indoor sources and building conditions might have negative effects on air indoors. Increasing ventilation rates and use of low-emission materials would contribute towards improving indoor air quality.publishe

Indoor Air Quality in Primary Schools

Clean air is a basic requirement of life. The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has been the object of several studies due to an increasing concern within the scientific community on the effects of indoor air quality upon health, especially as people tend to spend more time indoors than outdoors. The quality of air inside homes, offices, schools or other private and public buildings is an essential determinant of healthy life and people’s well-being. People can be exposed to contaminants by inhalation, ingestion and dermal contact. In the past, scientists have paid much attention to the study of exposure to outdoor air contaminants, because they have realised the seriousness of outdoor air pollution problems. However, each indoor microenvironment has unique characteristics, determined by the local outdoor air, specific building characteristics and indoor activities. Indeed, hazardous substances are emitted from buildings, construction materials and indoor equipment or due to human activities indoors

Children exposure to atmospheric particles in indoor of Lisbon primary schools

Evidence continues to emerge showing that poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) can cause illness requiring absence from schools, and can cause acute health symptoms that decrease students’ performance. Since children spend on average 7–11 h per weekday at school, the IAQ in classrooms is expected to play a key role in the assessment of the effects of their personal exposure to air pollution. Within this context the present study was conducted in order to fulfill three primary objectives 1) to measure the levels and the element composition of PM2.5 and PM2.5–10, in three primary schools placed in Lisbon, in order to assess the children exposure to these pollutants; 2) to study the relationship between indoor and outdoor atmospheric particles concentrations and 3) to investigate the sources of high aerosols concentrations in classrooms. In the studied classrooms, the concentrations of coarse particles significantly exceeded the ambient levels. Element concentrations suggested that the physical activity of students highly contributed to the re-suspension of sedimented particles. The high levels of CO2 indicated that in these schools the ventilation was inadequate. This fact contributed to the establishment of poor IAQ.publishe

Children exposure to atmospheric particles in indoor of Lisbon primary schools. Atmospheric Environment

a b s t r a c t Evidence continues to emerge showing that poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) can cause illness requiring absence from schools, and can cause acute health symptoms that decrease students' performance. Since children spend on average 7e11 h per weekday at school, the IAQ in classrooms is expected to play a key role in the assessment of the effects of their personal exposure to air pollution. Within this context the present study was conducted in order to fulfill three primary objectives 1) to measure the levels and the element composition of PM 2.5 and PM 2.5e10 , in three primary schools placed in Lisbon, in order to assess the children exposure to these pollutants; 2) to study the relationship between indoor and outdoor atmospheric particles concentrations and 3) to investigate the sources of high aerosols concentrations in classrooms. In the studied classrooms, the concentrations of coarse particles significantly exceeded the ambient levels. Element concentrations suggested that the physical activity of students highly contributed to the re-suspension of sedimented particles. The high levels of CO 2 indicated that in these schools the ventilation was inadequate. This fact contributed to the establishment of poor IAQ