Assessment of Indoor Particulate Matter Emissions in Civil Engineering Laboratories

Abstract

Abstract In the departments of civil engineering, many experiments are conducted in laboratories for educational and research purposes. Varying degrees of respirable dust is generated as the outcome of these experiments which could cause harm to instructors’ and students’ health. This study is devised to highlight the importance of indoor air quality in university laboratories. As part of the research, four different particulate matter (PM) sizes (PM1.0, PM2.5, PM4.0, and PM10) were measured during specific experiments—sieve analysis, preparation of concrete mixture, crushing aggregate by jaw crusher, dynamic triaxial compression test, sieve analysis of silt specimen, cleaning sieve by air compressor and proctor compaction test—being conducted periodically in the laboratories of civil engineering departments. The measured values are mainly high compared to the indoor air quality standards. Recommendations are suggested to reduce indoor air PM levels and control measures were applied to the three experiments which contain the highest PM levels. The results have shown that control measures could make a remarkable difference to protect the instructors and civil engineering students.