Indoor Air Quality in Health Care Units (Case Study: Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran)

Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) represents an important research focus due to its direct and substantial implications on human health outcomes. Existing research showed that substandard IAQ exacerbates the effects of airborne diseases. The objective of this chapter would be to explore the correlation among indoor air quality (IAQ), location of air outlet valves, and fluctuations in IAQ indicators within the cardiovascular care unit (CCU). In this regard, a combination of experimental and numerical methods has been utilized. These included direct IAQ measurements within the unit and the application of computational fluid dynamics to simulate indoor air conditions based on the collected experimental data. In this specific circumstance, the state of the air outflow valve and the condition of the air change rate significantly affect the enhancement of IAQ levels. To confirm this hypothesis, existing literature was thoroughly reviewed according to IAQ guidelines. In a similar vein, the study included measurements of emissions such as CO2, CO, PM2.5, and PM10. Additionally, it examined the association relating to IAQ, air outlet placement, and dynamics of the emissions within the patient’s room.