SEARCH (School Environment And Respiratory health of CHildren)
an international research project
Annex 1
EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT
Objectives
1. to identify the exposure level in combination with an evaluation of building
characteristics and building use
2. to provide dataset used for elaborating guidelines aimed at improving IAQ in schools
Parts of the study:
3. physico-chemical
4. and biological IAQ measurements in schools and outdoors
Methods
1. IAQ parameters and pollutants selected
 Physical features
Temperature, relative humidity, air change rate
 Chemical pollutants selected

Gaseous pollutants: NO2, CO2, H2CO (formaldehyde), TVOC (total
VOC) or VOCs (BTEX)??

PM-related pollutants: PM10, PM4,5 PM1(??)
 Biological contaminants

dust mite ??

fungal spores (to be decided)

total airborne bacteria (to be decided)
2. Monitoring protocol
 Preferable equipments:

monitor for measuring the main IAQ parameters: temperature,
relative humidity, CO2 (and CO) concentrations

monitor with current mass concentration reading for PM
measurements

passive samplers for NO2, TVOC and H2CO
 Sampling
Indoor

Place:
classroom, in the breathing zone

Season:
heating period

Duration: depending on type of the pollutants measured
24 hrs (H2CO), 5 days (NO2, VOCs), school-time within
one day in each classroom (CO2, PM, temperature,
relative humidity)

Frequency: once in the period
Outdoor

Place:
in the ambient air, closest to the window of the
classroom

Season:

Duration: depending on type of the pollutants measured
heating period
24 hrs (H2CO), 5 days (NO2, VOCs),
10 minute measurements at the beginning and the end of
the school-time within one day (CO2, PM, temperature,
relative humidity)

Frequency: once in the period