| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6338215 | Atmospheric Environment | 2015 | 34 Pages |
Abstract
The results showed that child day-care centres were the indoor microenvironment with the highest median bacterial and fungal concentrations (3870 CFU/m3 and 415 CFU/m3, respectively), whereas the lowest median concentrations were observed in elderly care centres (222 CFU/m3 and 180 CFU/m3, respectively). Indoor bacterial concentrations were significantly higher than outdoor concentrations (p < 0.05); whereas the indoor/outdoor ratios for the obtained fungal concentrations were approximately around the unit. Indoor CO2 levels were associated with the bacterial concentration, probably due to occupancy and insufficient ventilation. Penicillium and Cladosporium were the most frequently occurring fungi. Children's had two times higher dose rate to biological pollutants when compared to adult individuals. Thus, due to children's susceptibility, special attention should be given to educational settings in order to guarantee their healthy future development.
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Earth and Planetary Sciences
Atmospheric Science
Authors
Joana Madureira, Inês Paciência, João Cavaleiro Rufo, Cristiana Pereira, João Paulo Teixeira, Eduardo de Oliveira Fernandes,