Assessment of Indoor Air Chemical Pollutants at Faculty of Health Sciences Administrative Offices Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Campus

Abstract

The 2010 guidelines for indoor air quality (ICOP IAQ 2010) provide a framework for evaluating and sustaining healthy indoor environments in enclosed spaces, promoting a safer and more comfortable atmosphere for occupants. Chemical pollutants in indoor air measured in this study are particulate matter (PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde (CH2O) and ozone (O3). A total of six sampling locations were selected, namely P1 (ReaCH), P2 (CORE), P3 (H-Care), P4 (iCaRehab & CODTIS), P5 (PD) and P6 (PTD). The results of the study found that all chemical parameters measured were found to comply with the limits allowed by ICOP IAQ 2010 except for ozone (O3) readings. The average range of carbon monoxide (CO) readings was recorded to be (0.0+0.0 ppm - 0.6+0.01 ppm) and still below the ICOP IAQ 2010 limit (10 ppm). CO2 readings ranged between (582+104 ppm - 847+67 ppm) with all readings at sampling locations complying with ICOP IAQ 2010 limits (1000 ppm). The average value for PM10 readings ranges between (0.01+0.01 ppm - 0.03+0.01 ppm) and all readings are below the ICOP IAQ 2010 limit (0.15 ppm). TVOC readings range between (0.0 + 0.0 ppm - 1.8 + 0.01 ppm) and all readings are below the ICOP IAQ 2010 limit (3 ppm). The average value for formaldehyde concentration between the reading range (0.00 + 0.00 ppm – 0.96 + 0.01 ppm) and it complies with the ICOP IAQ 2010 limit (0.10 ppm). The average O3 concentration exceeds the ICOP IAQ 2010 standard (i.e., 0.05 ppm) in the range of 0.00 + 0.00 – 0.06 + 0.01 ppm. Overall, the indoor air quality in all UKM Faculty of Health Sciences administrative offices is in good condition. However, monitoring indoor air quality periodically needs to be done to ensure that the occupants are always healthy and in a comfortable condition as well as being able to increase work productivity.