Track: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)

Abstract

People spend more time in indoor environments than outdoor thus the exposer to indoor air pollutant contributes greatly to one’s health, well-being and productivity. Children, as they spend more time at school, good indoor air quality at school will influence their health and academic achievements. Bioaerosol is one of the main indoor air contaminants, especially in primary schools because children tend to be at risk such as unprotected coughing and sneezing, less likely to wash their hands and more likely to exchange their belongings such as stationery, books, utensils, etc, which may promote the spread of infectious diseases. This study aims to evaluate the level of bioaerosol contamination in primary schools and to investigate risk factors associated with the exposure.

Methodology. This is a detailed systematic literature review that evaluates available datas regarding bioaerosol contamination and associated risk factors in primary schools between the year 2016 and 2020. Google Scholar and Portal Garuda were used as the main databases. 16 literatures that meet our study inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected. 11 studies measured bacteria CFU, 10 measured fungi CFU and only one of the many few studies measured virus. Either active or passive sampling strategy was employed to sample bioaerosol. In general, it was found that in subtropical countries, the average colony count of bacteria, fungi and viruses are higher compared to tropical countries. Weather related factors (e.g. temperature, humidity, season); building-related factors (age of the building, MVAC, furniture, hygiene status); as well as occupant factors (e.g. number of students/occupant) are associated with bioaerosol contaminations at school. More studies are needed to describe bioaerosol level at classrooms.

Keywords

bioaerosol; primary school classrooms; types of contaminant; contaminant concentration, contaminant factors