The findings of this study can provide useful information to improve the quality of the indoor environment of houses.
Authors
Aliya Naz, Assistant Professor, Jindal School of Liberal Arts and Humanities, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India.
Shamim Mosallaei, Environmental Health Engineering, Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Hassan Hashemi, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Mohammad Hoseini, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Mansooreh Dehghani, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Summary
In this study, indoor dust samples were collected from 40 houses in Shiraz; Iran, and analyzed to determine 16 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) using Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The study participants completed the questionnaires consisting of a series of questions for collecting information about symptoms of sick building syndrome and parameters affecting PAHs concentrations (including traffic congestion in the area, floor level, house renovation, building age, etc.).
The total PAHs concentrations in the settled dust samples ranged from 31 to 453 so that, phenanthrene, naphthalene and fluoranthene were the predominant congeners. Diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated the predominance of vehicular (especially diesel vehicle emissions) and cooking emissions, as the two major sources of PAHs, in indoor dust.
The results of statistical analysis showed a significant association between the total PAHs concentrations and SBS symptoms (headache, skin dryness, itching, and inflammation). In addition, based on health risk assessment, the mean ILCR (Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk) value was reported to be 3.85 × 10−5 for adults and 4.36 × 10−5 for children, indicating potential cancer risk as a result of exposure to household dust containing PAHs. The findings of this study can provide useful information to improve the quality of the indoor environment of houses.
Published in: Building and Environment
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