Health promotion in healing environments: The application of a sampling methodology for testing VOCs annual values in inpatient rooms

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Gola M, Settimo G and Capolongo S

Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Italy

: J Chem Appl Chem Eng

Abstract

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Introduction: Indoor Air Quality is one the main issue in which governments is focusing. In healing spaces, several researches are reporting a growing number of data analysis and research works in order to better health of users and workers. Currently the main investigations are about biological and physical risks, otherwise chemical ones are less investigated.Several countries are carried out air quality monitoring in those professional workplaces in which chemicals are used, but also in some typically indoor spaces for the building hygiene evaluations. Therefore it determinates the definition and adoption of limits or guidelines and values, although the Italian context lacks of specific norms. Methodology: Starting from these considerations, a research group has launched an investigation and detection of air quality in inpatient rooms. The analysis examines VOCs, and the relative influence of thermo-hygrometric, ventilation and concentration of pollutants’ parameters. Discussion: The paper reports the results obtained from the indoor air monitoring in some inpatient rooms. Each survey, done every month, lasted between 5 and 7 days in relation to the real function use of the rooms, which considers all the activities, users and processes that influence the indoor air quality. Conclusion: The analysis is work in progress on several inpatient rooms for controlling the indoor air values even during the year, and it is expanding to more health facilities. Those data will be useful for the definition of design guidelines for healthy inpatient wards.

Biography

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E-mail: marco.gola@polimi.it