Projects / Programmes
Development of the prognostic model of exposure to indoor air pollutants in schools and preparation of evidence based measures for planning of efficient natural ventilation of the class
Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
3.08.00 |
Medical sciences |
Public health (occupational safety) |
|
Code |
Science |
Field |
B680 |
Biomedical sciences |
Public health, epidemiology |
Code |
Science |
Field |
3.03 |
Medical and Health Sciences |
Health sciences |
indoor air quality, natural ventilation, classrooms, prognostic model of exposure to indoor air pollutants
Researchers (11)
no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
1. |
11809 |
PhD Ciril Arkar |
Energy engineering |
Researcher |
2019 - 2022 |
346 |
2. |
30588 |
MSc Suzana Domjan |
Energy engineering |
Researcher |
2019 - 2022 |
174 |
3. |
05373 |
PhD Ivan Eržen |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2019 - 2022 |
671 |
4. |
39036 |
An Galičič |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2019 - 2022 |
97 |
5. |
30640 |
PhD Andreja Kukec |
Medical sciences |
Head |
2019 - 2022 |
375 |
6. |
33512 |
Uroš Lešnik |
Control and care of the environment |
Researcher |
2019 - 2022 |
135 |
7. |
12326 |
MSc Benjamin Lukan |
Control and care of the environment |
Researcher |
2019 - 2022 |
225 |
8. |
03408 |
PhD Sašo Medved |
Energy engineering |
Researcher |
2019 - 2022 |
808 |
9. |
12278 |
PhD Maja Rupnik |
Microbiology and immunology |
Researcher |
2019 - 2022 |
686 |
10. |
29652 |
Vesna Viher Hrženjak |
Public health (occupational safety) |
Researcher |
2019 - 2022 |
96 |
11. |
29659 |
Katja Zelenik |
Microbiology and immunology |
Researcher |
2019 - 2022 |
38 |
Organisations (3)
Abstract
School environment is an important factor of schoolchildren’s health as schoolchildren spend up to 8 hours in schools daily. Many studies, mostly foreign, indicate that schoolchildren are exposed to excessive air pollution in the classrooms, responsible for a negative impact on health by morbidity and mortality estimates. From the many indoor air pollutants present in the classrooms, some are by the International agency for research on cancer classified as carcinogenic agents and some microbial contaminants can also cause communicable diseases.
A measure for reduction of exposure to air pollutants in classrooms is ventilation, which can be either natural or mechanical. Even though over the last period, schools are being built under highest criterion for energy efficient buildings, with energetically efficient mechanical ventilation, schools are being ventilated naturally. In the old schools that also have not been reconstructed, the quality of indoor air in the classrooms is dependent on the behaviour of the room users, which is related to the moderate climate type with typical natural ventilation with opening and closing of the windows and doors. With this project, we wish to research the possibilities of controlled natural ventilation from the viewpoint of indoor air quality and schoolchildren’s exposure to air pollutants in the classrooms.
Goals of the research project are:
identification and characterization of the sources of indoor air pollution in classrooms.
measurements of the classroom and ambient air quality for parametrization of the process of pollution and ventilation.
measurements of airtightness of classrooms and development of hydraulic model of ventilation.
development of the prognosis model of exposure to indoor air pollutants in schools with natural ventilation depending on the ambient pollution, pedagogical process and technical characteristics of the classroom.
preparation of evidence based measures for planning of efficient natural ventilation of the classrooms.
assessment of the effectiveness of the measures with measurements of indoor air quality of classrooms and inclusion of novel information technology.
With the implementation of this project, we wish to acquire a better insight into the issue of indoor air quality in the classrooms, mainly on the topic of natural ventilation and effectiveness of it. We wish to identify the sources of indoor air pollution in the classroom of Slovenian schools, define the effectiveness of natural ventilation of the classrooms, prepare the prognosis model of exposure to indoor air pollutants in the classrooms and preparation of evidence based measures for planning of effective natural ventilation of classrooms. The implementation of this project will have a major public health significance, as it will aid in reducing of schoolchildren’s and teachers’ exposure to indoor air pollutants in the classroom.
For the project proposal, multidisciplinary consortium, consisting of public health (Slovenian National Institute of Public Health, NIJZ) and engineering professionals (University of Ljubljana Faculty of Mechanical Engineering), was formed, enabling development and implementation of methodological approach. Filed measurements will be carried out by the experts from the accredited laboratory (National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food, NLZOH).
All the consortium members have excellent experiences on the national and international level from the project proposal. Therefore, a new knowledge synthesis will be provided to develop a model for predicting the exposure to the indoor air pollutants in schools. Besides, evidence-based measures to achieve effective natural classroom ventilation will be administered.
Significance for science
Based on the scientific and expertise literature review, we can emphasize that in the international circles there is a need for the development of various prognosis models of indoor air pollution. Children are at a significant risk for exposure to indoor air pollution in schools, as they spend a lot of time in schools and are due to their physiology considered as a sensitive population group. Occupational exposure to indoor air in schools should also not be neglected.
Considering known evidence, the most significant contribution to the science and expertise presents a developed methodological approach, which considers:
identification of the indoor air pollution sources present in schools and their characterization. Consequently considering hazard risk of the identified sources.
a model evaluating the effectiveness of the natural ventilation in schools and designing evidence based measures for reducing exposure of schoolchildren to indoor air pollution in the classrooms. At the moment science presents limited evidences on such kind of measures.
adjusting the most relevant prognosis model of indoor air pollutants in the classroom for Slovenian area.
Cooperation of the various experts of different scientific fields (medicine, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and engineering) will be implemented in designing and implementation of the prognosis model for evaluating the effectiveness of the natural ventilation in the classrooms. A holistic approach will be used in the evaluation and control of indoor air pollution in the classrooms, giving an evidence based approach to development of environmental health policies.
Significance for the country
A development of the government is firmly connected to the ability of the society and an individual’s ability to work, both highly dependent on the health status. An important factor is a low indoor air quality in the occupational settings. With small adjustments results of this project will be transferable into occupational setting.
We expect that this project’s results will improve indoor air quality and consequently reduce health risk, improve effectiveness and creativity at work and reducing absence at work. This will also reduce costs connected with illnesses.
A wider significance for the government will be shown in healthier, safer and more responsible society. By designing evidence based measures we will be able to give support in designing of environmental health regulations.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2020
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2020