Abstract
Indoor air quality is closely related to human health, and increasing studies have highlighted that poor indoor air quality presents a threat to occupants’ health in office and school buildings. This paper aims to analyze the exposure levels and health effects of indoor air pollutants in office and school buildings in the Yangtze River Delta, China. The published studies from 1980 to 2020 concerning indoor pollutants (including formaldehyde, PM2.5, PM10, CO2, TVOC, benzene, toluene, xylene, ammonia, microbial pollutants, and radon) in this zone were systematically reviewed. The Composite Index Method was used to evaluate indoor air quality, and DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) were evaluated by the IND and ID methods to quantify the health effects of inhaled air pollutants. The review found that PM2.5 concentrations exceeded current standards in China in 57% of the study samples in office buildings, while formaldehyde, benzene, TVOC, and ammonia exceeded existing standards in 60%, 62%, 61%, and 86% of the samples, respectively. In school buildings, 55% and 100% of the samples with the formaldehyde and ammonia concentrations exceeded the limits in standards, respectively. The evaluation of indoor air quality showed that office and school buildings in the Yangtze River Delta were at a medium and light pollution level, respectively. Furthermore, based on the DALYs value, the health risks of studied pollutants were ranked as PM2.5 > formaldehyde > ammonia > benzene > toluene > xylene. This review pointed out that in over half of the studies, the levels of pollutants (PM2.5, formaldehyde, benzene, TVOC, and ammonia) in office and school buildings exceeded the limits set by the current indoor air quality standard. PM2.5 and formaldehyde played important roles in impacting human health. Additionally, the levels of pollution varied among cities, and there were differences in health effects caused by different air pollutants, which should be noticed. This review provides valuable information on the levels and health effects of major pollutants, contributing to the control of main pollutants in school and office buildings.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
References
Aizlewood C, Dimitroulopoulou C, Environment BRE (2016) The HOPE Project: The UK experience. Indoor Built Environ 15(5):393–409. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X06069578
Alaidroos A, Mosly I (2023) Preventing mold growth and maintaining acceptable indoor air quality for educational buildings operating with high mechanical ventilation rates in hot and humid climates. Air Qual Atmos Health 16:341–361. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-022-01277-x
Alemany S, Vilor-Tejedor N, García-Esteban R, Bustamante M, Dadvand P (2018) Traffic-related air pollution, APOE ε4 status, and neurodevelopmental outcomes among school children enrolled in the BREATHE Project (Catalonia, Spain). Environ Health Perspect 126:087001. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2246
Arata S, Kawakubo S (2022) Study on productivity of office workers and power consumption of air conditioners in a mixed-mode ventilation building during springtime. Build Environ 214:108923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.108923
Bakó-Biró Z, Clements-Croome DJ, Kochhar N, Awbi HB, Williams MJ (2011) Ventilation rates in schools and pupils’ performance. Build Environ 48:215–223
Bank W (2016) The cost of air pollution: strengthening the economic case for action. World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/25013
Batterman S, Su F-C, Wald A, Watkins F, Godwin C, Thun G (2017) Ventilation rates in recently constructed U.S. school classrooms. Indoor Air 27:880–890. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/25013
Berman JD, McCormack MC, Koehler KA, Connolly F, Clemons-Erby D, Davis MF, Gummerson C, Leaf PJ, Jones TD, Curriero FC (2018) School environmental conditions and links to academic performance and absenteeism in urban, mid-Atlantic public schools. Int J Hyg Environ Health 221:800–808
Brągoszewska E, Biedroń I (2021) The efficiency of air purifiers at removing air pollutants in educational facilities - a preliminary study. Front Environ Sci 9:709718
Brągoszewska E, Biedroń I, Kozielska B, Pastuszka JS (2018) Microbiological indoor air quality in an office building in Gliwice, Poland: analysis of the case study. Air Qual Atmos Health 11:729–740. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-018-0579-z
Branco P, Nunes R, Alvim-Ferraz M, Martins F, Sousa S (2015) Children’s exposure to indoor air in urban nurseries – Part II: Gaseous pollutants’ assessment. Environ Res 142:662–670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2015.08.026
Brown T, Dassonville C, Derbez M, Ramalho O, Kirchner S, Crump D, Mandin C (2015) Relationships between socioeconomic and lifestyle factors and indoor air quality in French dwellings. Environ Res 140:385–396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2015.04.012
Bu X, Xie Z, Liu J, Wei L, Wang X, Chen M, Ren H (2021) Global PM2.5-attributable health burden from 1990 to 2017: estimates from the Global Burden of disease study 2017. Environ Res 197:111123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.111123
Cammalleri V, Pocino RN, Marotta D, Protano C, Sinibaldi F, Simonazzi S, Petyx M, Iavicoli S, Vitali M (2022) Occupational scenarios and exposure assessment to formaldehyde: a systematic review. Indoor Air 32:e12949. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12949
Canha N, Almeida SM, Freitas MC, Wolterbeek HT (2015) Assessment of bioaerosols in urban and rural primary schools using passive and active sampling methodologies. Arch Environ Prot 41:11–22
Chen C, Wan YL, Chen ZG, Lin J, Wang YF, Wu YQ, Zhao L (2017) Dynamic characteristics in air infiltration rate with respect to atmospheric PM2.5 pollution. J Beijing Univ Technol 43:285–293
Dai J, Hu PJ, Li YH, Tao R, Wen B, Zhao HP, Ma J (2019) Indoor air quality monitoring and management in primary and secondary schools in China. School Health in China 40:1224–1226
Degois J, Veillette M, Poulin P, Lévesque B, Aubin D, Ouazia B, Brisson M, Maltais F, Duchaine C (2021) Indoor air quality assessment in dwellings with different ventilation strategies in Nunavik and impacts on bacterial and fungal microbiota. Indoor Air 31:2213–2225. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12857
Deng GF, Wu P, Yang YX, Wang BY (2016) Exploration of air quality investigation and optimization techniques for primary and secondary school classrooms. Proceedings of the 8th International Forum on Healthy Housing Theory and Practice in 2016: 93–97
Dimitris K (2005) Indoor air and human exposure assessment-needs and approaches. Exp Toxicol Pathol 57:5–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etp.2005.05.002
Du T, Yao WL, Zhang SZ, Zhou ZH (2016) Influencing factors of outdoor PM2.5 mass concentration and indoor control measures. Gas Heat 36:21–26
Fan J, Fan H, Shen ZX, Dang WP, Zheng W, Wang ZH, Fu Y (2021) Concentration analysis and health risk assessment of air pollutants in newly decorated public places in Xi’an. Environ Sci Technol 42:2153–2158
Guo K, Qian H, Zhao D, Ye J (2020) Indoor exposure levels of bacteria and fungi in residences, schools, and offices in China: a systematic review. Indoor Air 30:1147–1165
Huang LH, Mo JH, Sundell J, Fan Z, Zhang YP (2013) Health risk assessment of inhalation exposure to formaldehyde and benzene in newly remodeled buildings. Beijing Plos One 8:e79553. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0079553
Huang Q, Zhao T, Qi A, Gao H, Zhang W, Duan S, Wang P, Wang Y, Zhang X, Wang W, Yang L (2022) Comparison of indoor and outdoor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from multiple urban residences in Northern China: coastal versus inland area. Build Environ 212:108800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.108800
Huang YH (2013) Concentration levels and exposure assessment of indoor and outdoor PM in office building of Chongqing, Chongqing University
Huijbregts M, Rombouts L, Ragas A, Meent D (2005) Human-toxicological effect and damage factors of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic chemicals for life cycle impact assessment. Integr Environ Assess Manag 1:181–244
Iglesias-González A, Hardy E, Appenzeller B (2020) Cumulative exposure to organic pollutants of French children assessed by hair analysis. Environ Int 134:105332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.105332
Jafta N, Barregard L, Jeena PM, Naidoo RN (2017) Indoor air quality of low- and middle-income urban households in Durban, South Africa. Environ Res 156:47–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.03.008
Korsavi SS, Montazami A, Mumovic D (2021) Perceived indoor air quality in naturally ventilated primary schools in the UK: impact of environmental variables and thermal sensation. Indoor Air 31:480–501. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12740
Kumar P, Kausar MA, Singh AB et al (2021) Biological contaminants in the indoor air environment and their impacts on human health. Air Qual Atmos Health 14:1723–1736. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-021-00978-z
Lei QC (2018) Sources of indoor environmental pollution caused by decoration and prevention measures. Constr Mater Decor 07:151–152
Lin HL, Liu T, Xiao JP, Zeng WL (2016) Mortality burden of ambient fine particulate air pollution in six Chinese cities: results from the Pearl River Delta study. Environ Int 96:91–97
Liu BY (2022) Analysis of ventilation effect and optimization strategy of office buildings during the novel coronavirus outbreak. Green Build 14:21–24+47
Logue JM, Price PN, Sherman MH, Singer BC (2012) A method to estimate the chronic health impact of air pollutants in U.S. residences. Environ Health Perspect 120:216–222
Lvovsky K, Gughes G, Maddison D, Ostro B (2000) Publication: environmental costs of fossil fuels: a rapid assessment method with application to six cities. World Bank ,Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18303
Ma JH, Li XH, Zhang Y (2022) Study on the effect of different ventilation methods on aerosol purification in the cleaning and disinfection room of digestive endoscope. Chin J Infect Control 21:623–630
Ma Q (2017) Contributions of major air pollution sources to fine particles and its disease burden. Tsinghua University
Madureira J, Paciência I, Rufo J, Ramos E, Barros H, Teixeira JP, de Oliveira FE (2015) Indoor air quality in schools and its relationship with children’s respiratory symptoms. Atmos Environ 118:145–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2015.07.028
Marchetti S, Longhin E, Bengalli R, Avino P, Stabile L, Buonanno G, Colombo A, Camatini M, Mantecca P (2018) In vitro lung toxicity of indoor PM10 from a stove fueled with different biomasses. Sci Total Environ 649:1422–1433
Marsh GM, Youk AO, Buchanich JM, Cassidy LD, Lucas LJ, Esmen NA, Gathuru IM (2002) Pharyngeal cancer mortality among chemical plant workers exposed to formaldehyde. Toxicol Ind Health 18:257–268
Mohamed S, Rodrigues L, Omer S, Calautit J (2021) Overheating and indoor air quality in primary schools in the UK. Energy Build 250:111291
World Health Organization (2009) Global health risks: mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks. World Health Organization, Geneva
Pacitto A, Amato F, Moreno T, Pandolfi M, Fonseca A, Mazaheri M, Stabile L, Buonanno G, Querol X (2020) Effect of ventilation strategies and air purifiers on the children’s exposure to airborne particles and gaseous pollutants in school gyms. Sci Total Environ 712:135673
Poulin P, Marchand A, Lévesque B, Dubé M, Aubin D, Ouazia B, Duchaine C, Brisson M (2022) Impact of improved indoor air quality in Nunavik homes on children’s respiratory health. Indoor Air 32:e13009. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.13009
Robert G (2011) Identifying an indoor air exposure limit for formaldehyde considering both irritation and cancer hazards. Crit Rev Toxicol 41:672–721
Reiner Q (2012) EC Green Paper Proposals and Audit Quality. Account Eur 9:17–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449480.2012.664398
Sakellaris I, Saraga D, Mandin C et al (2021) Association of subjective health symptoms with indoor air quality in European office buildings: the OFFICAIR project. Indoor Air 31:426–439. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12749
Schachter EN, Rohr A, Habre R et al (2020) Indoor air pollution and respiratory health effects in inner city children with moderate to severe asthma. Air Qual Atmos Health 13:247–257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-019-00789-3
Sérafin G, Blondeau P, Mandin C (2021) Indoor air pollutant health prioritization in office buildings. Indoor Air 31:646–659. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12776
Shang Y, Sun ZW, Wang XM (2013) Systematic review of Chinese studies of short-term exposure to air pollution and daily mortality. Environ Int 54:100–111
Shen JM (1997) Indoor air quality evaluation. Heat Air Cond 27:22–25
Shi JJ, Yuan D, Zhao ZH (2015) Residential indoor PM2.5 sources, concentration and influencing factors in China. Environ Health J 32:825–829
Shi XM (2017) Study on the acute health risks of air pollution in China. 2017 Academic Conference on Environment and Public Health and Chinese Society for Environmental Science 2:21–22
Stabile L, Pacitto A, Mikszewski A, Morawska L, Buonanno G (2021) Ventilation procedures to minimize the airborne transmission of viruses in classrooms. Build Environ 202:108042. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108042
State Administration for Market Regulation, China (2022) GB/T18883–2022, Indoor, Air Quality Standard
Su C, Pan M, Zhang Y, Kan H, Zhao Z, Deng F, Zhao B, Qian H, Zeng X (2022) Indoor exposure levels of radon in dwellings, schools, and offices in China from 2000 to 2020: a systematic review. Indoor Air 32:e12920
Sun CJ, Hong SJ, Cai GK, Zhang Y, Kan H, Zhao Z, Deng F, Zhao B, Zeng X (2021) Indoor exposure levels of ammonia in residences, schools, and offices in China from 1980 to 2019. Syst Rev 31:1691–1706
Szabados M, Csákó Z, Kotlík B, Kazmarová H, Kozajda A, Jutraz A, Kukec A, Otorepec P, Dongiovanni A, Di M, Fraire S, Szigeti T (2021) Indoor air quality and the associated health risk in primary school buildings in Central Europe - the indoor air quality study. Indoor Air 31:989–1003
Wang H, Ye W, Gao J, Zhang X (2019) Pollutants characteristics analysis and occupant chronical health effects evaluation based an indoor air pollutant database for public buildings in China. Build Sci 35:122–128+134
Wu S, Deng F, Wei H, Huang J, Wang X, Hao Y, Zheng C, Qin Y, Lu H, Guo X (2014) Association of cardiopulmonary health effects with source-appointed ambient fine particulate in Beijing, China: a combined analysis from the Healthy Volunteer Natural Relocation (HVNR) study. Environ Sci Technol 48:3438–3448
Wu Z, Zhang S, Tang Y, Jiang W, Jiang H, Xie Z, Zhang B (2020) Indoor environment in relation to recurrent childhood pneumonia in Southern China. Build Environ 172:106727. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106727
Xiang LL, Liu D, Zuo X (2015) PM2.5 Concentration distribution and influence factors of an office building in Shanghai. Building Energy Efficiency 43:85–91
Ying X, Zhu L, Wu YZ, Gu YM, Wu GH (2020) Indoor air quality in classrooms of primary and 787 secondary schools during autumn and winter in Hangzhou. Chin J Sch Health 41:765–768
Yu L, Wang B, Cheng M, Yang M, Gan S, Fan L, Wang D, Chen W (2020) Association between indoor formaldehyde exposure and asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Indoor Air 30:682–690. https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12657
Zhang J, Cao X, Wang X, Pang L, Liang J, Zhang L (2021) Physiological responses to elevated carbon dioxide concentration and mental workload during performing MATB tasks. Build Environ 195:107752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.107752
Zhang J, Chen Q, Wang Q, Ding Z, Sun H, Xu Y (2019) The acute health effects of ozone and PM2.5 on daily cardiovascular disease mortality: a multi-center time series study in China. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 174:218–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.02.085
Zhao L, Chen C, Wang P, Wan YL, Wang YF (2015) Characteristics of change of PM2.5 mass concentration indoors and outdoors in an office building in Beijing in summer and winter. Build Sci 31:32–39
Zhao XG, Duan XL (2014) Exposure factors handbook of Chinese population (adults). China Environ Sci Press 1:11–15
Zhao XG, Duan XL (2016) Exposure factors handbook of Chinese population (children 6–17 years). China Environ Sci Press 2:46–60
Funding
This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development of China (2017YFC0702700), the Shanghai Natural Science Foundation (21ZR1444800), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51708347).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Chanjuan Sun: Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing—Original Draft. Jingyu Chen: Data collection, Investigation, Formal analysis. Shijie Hong: Data curation, Visualization. Yinping Zhang: Conceptualization, Supervision, Funding acquisition. Haidong Kan: Supervision. Zhuohui Zhao: Methodology. Furong Deng: Project administration. Xiangang Zeng: Resources. Yuexia Sun: Resources, Methodology. Hua Qian: Resources. Wei Liu: Conceptualization, Supervision, Review. Jinhan Mo: Resources, Methodology. Ningrui Liu: Conceptualization, Supervision, Review. Jianguo Guo: Resources, Methodology. Xiaohong Zheng: Resources. Chunxiao Su: Methodology, Data Curation, Review. Zhijun Zou: Resources, Validation. Hao Li: Resources, Validation. Chen Huang: Supervision, Writing—Review and Editing.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval
Not applicable.
Consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Sun, C., Chen, J., Hong, S. et al. Indoor air quality and its health effects in offices and school buildings in the Yangtze River Delta. Air Qual Atmos Health 16, 1571–1586 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-023-01358-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-023-01358-5