Browsing by Author "Mohd Hizrri bin Arifin"

In average, children in Malaysia spend six to eight hours of their day time in schools and may have been exposed to various indoor air pollutants inside classrooms. Children inhale more air pollutants per kilograms of body weight, thus they are more prone to illness caused by air pollutants as compared to adults. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess IAQ characteristics in the classroom of 3 different selected primary schools in Pahang (SKBB, SKT, SKIM) during two different periods of monsoon season (Southwest Monsoon, (SW) and Northeast Monsoon, (NE)). Considering also occupancy effects of the classrooms, the IAQ parameters (temperature, relative humidity (RH), air velocity, particulate matter (PM), Total Bacteria Count (TBC) and Total Fungal Count (TFC)) were assessed. This study also aimed to identify airborne bacteria and fungi species within classrooms environments in those area. Bacteria and fungi species identifications were done using 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequence analysis respectively. The parent-assisted questionnaire used in this study was derived from Industry Code of Practice (ICOP) on Indoor Air Quality, 2010 to measure the prevalence of SBS among school children. As results, temperature, RH, air velocity and PM had a significant difference between all schools (p < 0.05). Temperature and RH always exceeded ICOP 2010 limit at all schools during both season. Indoor to outdoor ratio (I/O) for most of parameters exceeding 1, while the strongest negative correlation between parameters was observed between RH and Temperature (r < - 0.853). The strongest positive correlation between parameters was observed between TSP and PM10 (r < 0.914). This study also found that Staphylococcus sp. and Bacillus sp. were predominant bacteria species within the classrooms compound. Aspergillus sp. were predominant fungi species at all schools. Prevalence of ophthalmic symptoms was higher than respiratory symptoms and other symptoms at all schools. Occurrence of “dizziness”, “eyes irritation” and “irritated stuffy nose” had a significant association with all schools selected in this study (p < 0.05). The findings had revealed that IAQ parameters in primary schools were affected by the surrounding environments in accordance with intensities of anthropogenic activities around the school area. The results also reflected that student presence and activities in the classrooms had influenced on IAQ parameters. Poor classroom conditions affected thermal comforts of students, in which subsequently had triggered prevalence of SBS symptoms among the school children.