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Indoor Air Quality and Perceived Health Effects Experienced by Occupants of an Office Complex in a Typical Tertiary Institution in Nigeria

Received: 7 April 2015     Accepted: 21 April 2015     Published: 8 June 2015
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Abstract

Exposure to compromised indoor air is one of the factors affecting the health and productivity of workers in the workplace. Studies have proved that the number of related health complaints from workplace has increased in recent years. Indoor air quality and perceived health effects experienced by occupants of selected offices and classrooms in the Oladele Ajose Building (OAJB) were assessed in this study. Temperature and Relative Humidity (RH) of seven indoor locations within OAJB were monitored using Multi-Tester N21FR during the dry season. Values obtained for temperature and RH were compared with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) guideline limits for indoor environment of 23.5 – 25.5°C and 30 – 50% respectively. Airborne Total Bacteria Count (TBC) and Total Fungi Count (TFC) were determined using Polish Standard PN 89/Z-04008/08 and values obtained compared with the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) guideline limit of 500cfu/m3 for total airborne microbial count in an indoor environment. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from staff and students. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Mean indoor temperature and RH in the morning were 30.3±2.5 °C and 30.5±2.1% respectively and 66.5±5.6°C and 66.6±5.6% respectively in the afternoon. The TBC and TFC were lower than guideline limit. Bacterial species isolated included Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas and Proteus while fungi specie includes Aspergillus. Mean age of respondents was 31.4±8.9 years. Reported symptoms in the last six months prior the study include cough (65.5%), fatigue (81.0%) and wheezing (87.9%). Temperature and RH of the sampled locations were higher than acceptable limits. These together with the airborne microbes may influence the prevalence of health symptoms experienced by respondents. Routine air monitoring of office buildings should be carried out to ensure conformance with stipulated guidelines.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20150304.24
Page(s) 552-558
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Indoor Air Quality, Perceived Health Effects, Workplace, Ibadan

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    Morakinyo Oyewale Mayowa, Ana Godson Rowland, Hammed Taiwo Babatunde, Adejumo Mumuni. (2015). Indoor Air Quality and Perceived Health Effects Experienced by Occupants of an Office Complex in a Typical Tertiary Institution in Nigeria. Science Journal of Public Health, 3(4), 552-558. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20150304.24

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    ACS Style

    Morakinyo Oyewale Mayowa; Ana Godson Rowland; Hammed Taiwo Babatunde; Adejumo Mumuni. Indoor Air Quality and Perceived Health Effects Experienced by Occupants of an Office Complex in a Typical Tertiary Institution in Nigeria. Sci. J. Public Health 2015, 3(4), 552-558. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20150304.24

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    AMA Style

    Morakinyo Oyewale Mayowa, Ana Godson Rowland, Hammed Taiwo Babatunde, Adejumo Mumuni. Indoor Air Quality and Perceived Health Effects Experienced by Occupants of an Office Complex in a Typical Tertiary Institution in Nigeria. Sci J Public Health. 2015;3(4):552-558. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20150304.24

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20150304.24,
      author = {Morakinyo Oyewale Mayowa and Ana Godson Rowland and Hammed Taiwo Babatunde and Adejumo Mumuni},
      title = {Indoor Air Quality and Perceived Health Effects Experienced by Occupants of an Office Complex in a Typical Tertiary Institution in Nigeria},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {3},
      number = {4},
      pages = {552-558},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20150304.24},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20150304.24},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20150304.24},
      abstract = {Exposure to compromised indoor air is one of the factors affecting the health and productivity of workers in the workplace. Studies have proved that the number of related health complaints from workplace has increased in recent years. Indoor air quality and perceived health effects experienced by occupants of selected offices and classrooms in the Oladele Ajose Building (OAJB) were assessed in this study. Temperature and Relative Humidity (RH) of seven indoor locations within OAJB were monitored using Multi-Tester N21FR during the dry season. Values obtained for temperature and RH were compared with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) guideline limits for indoor environment of 23.5 – 25.5°C and 30 – 50% respectively. Airborne Total Bacteria Count (TBC) and Total Fungi Count (TFC) were determined using Polish Standard PN 89/Z-04008/08 and values obtained compared with the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) guideline limit of 500cfu/m3 for total airborne microbial count in an indoor environment. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from staff and students. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Mean indoor temperature and RH in the morning were 30.3±2.5 °C and 30.5±2.1% respectively and 66.5±5.6°C and 66.6±5.6% respectively in the afternoon. The TBC and TFC were lower than guideline limit. Bacterial species isolated included Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas and Proteus while fungi specie includes Aspergillus. Mean age of respondents was 31.4±8.9 years. Reported symptoms in the last six months prior the study include cough (65.5%), fatigue (81.0%) and wheezing (87.9%). Temperature and RH of the sampled locations were higher than acceptable limits. These together with the airborne microbes may influence the prevalence of health symptoms experienced by respondents. Routine air monitoring of office buildings should be carried out to ensure conformance with stipulated guidelines.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    AB  - Exposure to compromised indoor air is one of the factors affecting the health and productivity of workers in the workplace. Studies have proved that the number of related health complaints from workplace has increased in recent years. Indoor air quality and perceived health effects experienced by occupants of selected offices and classrooms in the Oladele Ajose Building (OAJB) were assessed in this study. Temperature and Relative Humidity (RH) of seven indoor locations within OAJB were monitored using Multi-Tester N21FR during the dry season. Values obtained for temperature and RH were compared with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) guideline limits for indoor environment of 23.5 – 25.5°C and 30 – 50% respectively. Airborne Total Bacteria Count (TBC) and Total Fungi Count (TFC) were determined using Polish Standard PN 89/Z-04008/08 and values obtained compared with the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) guideline limit of 500cfu/m3 for total airborne microbial count in an indoor environment. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from staff and students. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics. Mean indoor temperature and RH in the morning were 30.3±2.5 °C and 30.5±2.1% respectively and 66.5±5.6°C and 66.6±5.6% respectively in the afternoon. The TBC and TFC were lower than guideline limit. Bacterial species isolated included Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Pseudomonas and Proteus while fungi specie includes Aspergillus. Mean age of respondents was 31.4±8.9 years. Reported symptoms in the last six months prior the study include cough (65.5%), fatigue (81.0%) and wheezing (87.9%). Temperature and RH of the sampled locations were higher than acceptable limits. These together with the airborne microbes may influence the prevalence of health symptoms experienced by respondents. Routine air monitoring of office buildings should be carried out to ensure conformance with stipulated guidelines.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

  • Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

  • Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

  • Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

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