Indoor air quality monitoring in metropolitan city Lahore: Using handheld devices

Abstract

Introduction: Outdoor air pollution has been considered the primary issueby scientists and environmentalists for decades. With the advancement of technology, the activities of human are shifting from outdoor to indoor, urging researchers to investigate the indoor environment. Theerefore, the focus of this study is to examine indoor air quality in the metropolitan of Lahore. Materials and methods: The Temtop M2000C and Temtop H3 Laser monitors were used to collect data on Particulate Matter (PM), Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), and formaldehyde (HCHO). The concentration of air pollutants in nine indoor areas was measured for a specified time interval. The values of particulate matter are measured to find the impact of the outdoor environment on the indoor environment. Results: The maximum average values of the particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 were 488.6 μg/m³ and 737.2 6 μg/m³, respectively, which reduced drastically after the rain to 219 μg/m³ and 340 μg/m³, respectively. The maximum values of PM2.5 and PM10 during coal burning outside the room were 997.6 μg/m³ and 999.9 μg/m³, respectively, far higher than the values during normal conditions. TVOC and HCHO were found within the prescribed limits. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study established a deep impact of the outdoor environment on the indoor environment and recommend air purifiers to reduce the level of pollutants in the indoor environment.

Keywords

• Indoor air quality; Particulate matter; Carbon dioxide; Volatile organic compound (VOC); Formaldehyde