Correlation between indoor air pollutants and asthma: A case study in KUET Available to Purchase

Polluted air, whether outside or inside a building, can potentially aggravate asthma and allergy symptoms in the human body. In addition to dust mites, pet allergens, and mold, chemical pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, particulates, and volatile organic compounds are known to trigger asthma attacks. Because students spend an average of 10–14 hours inside the classroom each week, they are subjected to a significant amount of polluted indoor air, which poses a significant threat to their overall health. There has not been a lot of research done on the connection between the indoor air quality (IAQ) of educational institutions and the allergens that students are exposed to, as well as the health of their respiratory systems. This research project focuses on the classrooms at the Civil Engineering Department at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology and the quality of the indoor air was investigated to discover whether or not certain air contaminants are responsible for triggering asthma attacks. To query about the pupils’ respiratory health, a questionnaire was handed out to each of them. Portable air analyzers were used to determine the level of cleanliness of the air inside. The concentration of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and ozone (O₃) were all measured by this apparatus. Using the concentration of the air pollutants present in the classroom, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was calculated with the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. A total of around 26% of the students who took part in the survey were diagnosed with asthma, and 35% of the students had a family history of asthma. The Air Quality Index (AQI) values for sulfur dioxide (SO₂), particulate matter (PM_2.5), and particulate matter (PM₁₀) were 63, 96, and 90, respectively, suggesting minor respiratory discomfort. According to the findings of this study, there is a possibility that asthma could be triggered by exposure to air pollution that is present in the classroom. This is the conclusion drawn from the data of the study. Within the classroom located in the Civil Engineering building, an assessment was carried out to determine whether or not the classroom was qualified for WELL Certification. There is a scorecard system, and the minimum number of points necessary to become eligible for the certification in the air category is 17. Based on the findings of the investigation, the classroom received just 4 points, which indicates that the classes do not meet the requirements for certification. For enhanced indoor air quality, the study recommends WELL Building Standard classroom improvement.