Microbial Air Quality of Toilet Environment

Microbial Air Quality of Toilet Environment

CHAPTER ONE

OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

To determine the level of gas pollutants that exists in toilets in UNN
To determine the existing SO₂concentrations on selected toilets in UNN
To identify the health effect of S02 concentrations in toilets in UNN

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

ENVIRONMENT

Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can impact their health, but indoor air pollution can also have significant and harmful health effects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times and occasionally more than 100 times higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because most people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. The following are the attribute of a good microbial air quality (IAQ) management:

Control of airborne pollutants;
Introduction and distribution of adequate outdoor air; and
Maintenance of acceptable temperature and relative humidity.

Good Microbial air quality (IAQ) contributes to a favorable environment for students, performance of teachers and staff, and a sense of comfort, health, and well-being. These elements combine to assist a school in its core mission educating people (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2009)

Importance of a Good Microbial air quality

In recent years, comparative risk studies performed by EPA and its Science Advisory Board (SAB) have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health (David, 2010). Good IAQ is an important component of a healthy indoor environment, and can help schools reach their primary goal of educating people. Failure to prevent or respond promptly to IAQ problems can:

Increase long and short-term health problems for students and staff (such as cough, eye irritation, headache, allergic reactions, and, in raer cases, life-threatening conditions such as Legionnaire‟s disease, or carbon monoxide poisoning) can all be cause owing to exposure to combustion pollutants
Aggravate asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Nearly 1 in 13 people of school age has asthma, the leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness. There is substantial evidence that indoor environmental exposure to allergens, such as dust mites, pests, and molds, plays a role in triggering asthma symptoms. These allergens are common in schools. There is also evidence that exposure to diesel exhaust from school buses and other vehicles exacerbates asthma and allergies. These problems can:

Impact student attendance, comfort, and performance.
Reduce teacher and staff performance.
Accelerate the deterioration and reduce the efficiency of the school’s physical plant and equipment.
Increase potential for school closings or relocation of occupants.
Strain relationships among school administration, parents, and staff.
Create negative publicity. vii. Impact community trust.
Create liability problems.

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Sampling Sites

This study was conducted on four selected toilets at Faculty of Civil Engineering of University of Nigeria Nsukka. The four selected toilets where two toilets are used for gents, and two more are for women. The selected toilets were ventilated by natural ventilation through open windows or mechanical ventilation using fan.

Sample Collection and Analysis

Investigating was conducted during break hours in one day. Temperature, relative humidity, MICROBIAL AIR, NO, and SO₂ were measured for 10 minutes using Air Quality Monitoring. The instrument was placed vertically at a height of 1.2 m. During the investigating periods, each of the investigated toilets was occupied.

All the data obtained were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis including mean, standard deviation, maximum value, and minimum value using statistical analysis functions in Microsoft Excel. Finally, one sample T-test and independent samples T-test were conducted using Statistical Package for The Social Science (SPSS) version 17.

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Indoor Climate

Indoor air temperatures recorded in the toilets was between 23.8 to 28.7 degree Celsius and the recorded relative humidity was in the range of 67% to 93%. Based on descriptive statistical tool analysis as in table 3, the mean values of temperature for four toilets are 25.4 °C, 27.657 °C, 26.709 °C and 28.41 °C respectively, while the range of mean values of relative humidity was 68.476 to 83.809 %.

Microbial air quality

The descriptive statistical data of SO₂, NO, and MICROBIAL AIR that were obtained from four selected toilets in Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering of University Tun Hussein Onn Nigeria are given in Table 4. SO₂ measured was between 0.2 ppm to 0.4 ppm, while NO was between 0.1 ppm to 10.4 ppm. Finally, the existing MICROBIAL AIR measured was between 366 ppm to 588 ppm.

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

CONCLUSION

In this study, microbial air quality parameters such as Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂), Nitric Oxide (NO), and also Carbon Dioxide (MICROBIAL AIR) were measured to determine the level of gas pollutants exist in the selected toilets at Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering of UNN. Based on the measurement results, it can be drawn a few conclusions as follows:

The existing SO₂concentrations on selected toilets found as a factor which could have adverse health effect such as asthmatic.
Mechanical ventilation in this study was found as a factor that most contributes to the number of existing SO₂, while the number of existing MICROBIAL AIR was mostly affected by female toilets based on independent samples T-test analysis.
Mechanical ventilation in selected toilets is one of the sources that could have lead to asthmatic symptoms due to the number of existing SO₂thatwas affected by mechanical ventilation mode.
Ultimately, the behaviour of toilet users also affected the level of microbial air quality within toilet. For example, not flushing properly, smoking, and throw cigarettes in toilet.

RECOMMENDATION

The following are recommended:

It is also recommended that fume hoods be installed in the laboratories that are without fume hoods such as the Chemistry Lab I hood. This is to take care of the gaseous pollutants from combustion activities.
Adequate provision and maintenance of the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system of the laboratories particularly the fume hoods.
The school authority as a matter of urgency should try and construct new laboratories to address the challenges from congestion in the laboratories. This will also help in accommodating the teaching and learning of the students enrolled.
Creation of awareness on the deadly health consequences of individuals exposure to combustion indoor pollutants among staff and students within the institution and even in the general public

REFERENCES

Muhamad-darus, A. Zain-ahmed, and M. Talib, “Preliminary assessment of microbial air quality in terrace houses,” Health and the Environmental Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 8–14, 2011.
National Research Council, Commitee on Indoor Air Pollutants: Indoor Pollutants. Washington, DC.: National Academy Press, 1981.
G. Triantafyllou, S. Zoras, and V. Evagelopoulos, “PM₁₀, O₃, CO Concentrations and elemental analysis of airborne particles in a school building,” Water Air Soil Pollution, Vol. 08, pp. 77–87, 2007.
Sharpe, “Safe as Houses ? Indoor air pollution and health,” Environmental Monitoring, Vol. 6, pp. 46–49, 2004.
D. Montgomery and D. A. Kalman, “Indoor or outdoor air quality: Reference Concentrations In Complaint Free Residences,” Applied Industry Hygience, Vol. 4, pp. 17– 20, 1989.
S. EPA, Why Is The Environmen Indoors Important to Us ? Washington, DC. Indoor Environment Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000.

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