Assessment of the indoor air quality for workers in plastic factory (Gerri)

Abstract

Measurement of air quality and environmental conditions in the places where people are used to spend a large amount of their time is essential. Hazardous substances emitted by anthropogenic activities, building construction materials, indoor equipment or heating & cooling system may lead to broad range of health problems. Therefore, it is vital to investigate the quality of the indoor workplace environment. These accumulative effects have added a concern that air quality of indoor environment should be monitored, analyzed, and reported properly. This research study of air pollutants inside a plastic factory in Gerri for 14 locations.Ten parameters including(carbon monoxide( CO ), nitrogen dioxide (NO2, )carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2 ) total volatile organic compounds(TVOCs), particulate matter(PM2.5 ),temperature, relative humidity( RH ) Noise and light) were measured using WOLF Pack Area Monitor, Thermo Scientific pDR-1500 personal Data RAM, Sound level meter and Lux light meter. All locations have been evaluated based on different international standards such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Accordingly the indoor air quality and environmental conditions of all locations were categorized as acceptable and not acceptable as per permissible limits defined for each parameter. Nine parameters (CO, NO2, CO2, SO2, TVOCs, PM2.5, RH, Noise, light )were detected.at acceptable levels except some locations the noise is above the upper permissible range as recommended by OSHA i.e. <85db. Also some locations not acceptable where the TVOCs is above the upper permissible range as recommended by OSHA i.e.< 1𝑝𝑝𝑚. Another location not acceptable where the light is under the permissible range as recommended by OSHA i.e.≥ 322𝑙𝑢𝑥. Also the temperature in all locations is above the upper of permissible range as recommended by OSHA i.e. (20-26). Overall, this study highlighted that the air quality and environmental conditions in most of the locations is considered to be healthy and the parameters monitored during indoor air quality and environmental conditions survey were within the ASHRAE and OSHA limits. This study can be used as a baseline for any future detailed indoor air quality and environmental conditions investigation for plastic factories and other factories in Sudan.