Indoor Air Quality in an Orthopedic Hospital from Romania

Inside hospitals, there is a trend of increasing levels of air pollutants. However, only the indoor air quality in operating theaters is carefully monitored. Therefore, we set the goal of this study to evaluate the indoor air quality in areas of an orthopedics department and to compare the indoor ai...

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Main Authors: Flaviu Moldovan, Liviu Moldovan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Toxics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/11/815
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author Flaviu Moldovan
Liviu Moldovan
author_facet Flaviu Moldovan
Liviu Moldovan
author_sort Flaviu Moldovan
collection DOAJ
description Inside hospitals, there is a trend of increasing levels of air pollutants. However, only the indoor air quality in operating theaters is carefully monitored. Therefore, we set the goal of this study to evaluate the indoor air quality in areas of an orthopedics department and to compare the indoor air quality indices that characterize these areas. We used a monitoring system based on the Internet of Things with uRADMonitor model A3 sensors, with which we prospectively measured indoor air quality in the facilities of the orthopedic emergency hospital of Targu Mures in Romania, between 1 February 2023, and 31 January 2024. The primary target pollutants investigated in the emergency room, outpatient room and ward were carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particles with a diameter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). We compared the effectiveness of the intervention for emergency rooms where air purifiers were working or not. The concentrations of CO<sub>2</sub>, VOCs and PM2.5 were significantly higher in the emergency room than in the outpatient room or ward. The indoor air quality was worst in winter, when the CO<sub>2</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub> and VOC concentrations were at their highest. Air purifiers can help reduce the concentration of PM2.5 in emergency rooms. Medical staff and patients in orthopedic hospitals, especially in emergency rooms, are frequently exposed to polluted ambient air, which can affect their health. Orthopedic medical practice guidelines should address issues relating to the protection of personnel through the application of measures to improve indoor air quality.
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series Toxics
spelling doaj-art-1999f0d34dba40c9b198668d366a01b82024-11-26T18:23:54ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-11-01121181510.3390/toxics12110815Indoor Air Quality in an Orthopedic Hospital from RomaniaFlaviu Moldovan0Liviu Moldovan1Orthopedics—Traumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, RomaniaFaculty of Engineering and Information Technology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540142 Targu Mures, RomaniaInside hospitals, there is a trend of increasing levels of air pollutants. However, only the indoor air quality in operating theaters is carefully monitored. Therefore, we set the goal of this study to evaluate the indoor air quality in areas of an orthopedics department and to compare the indoor air quality indices that characterize these areas. We used a monitoring system based on the Internet of Things with uRADMonitor model A3 sensors, with which we prospectively measured indoor air quality in the facilities of the orthopedic emergency hospital of Targu Mures in Romania, between 1 February 2023, and 31 January 2024. The primary target pollutants investigated in the emergency room, outpatient room and ward were carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>), nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particles with a diameter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). We compared the effectiveness of the intervention for emergency rooms where air purifiers were working or not. The concentrations of CO<sub>2</sub>, VOCs and PM2.5 were significantly higher in the emergency room than in the outpatient room or ward. The indoor air quality was worst in winter, when the CO<sub>2</sub>, NO<sub>2</sub> and VOC concentrations were at their highest. Air purifiers can help reduce the concentration of PM2.5 in emergency rooms. Medical staff and patients in orthopedic hospitals, especially in emergency rooms, are frequently exposed to polluted ambient air, which can affect their health. Orthopedic medical practice guidelines should address issues relating to the protection of personnel through the application of measures to improve indoor air quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/11/815hospitalorthopediccarbon dioxidenitrogen dioxideparticulate mattervolatile organic compounds
spellingShingle Flaviu Moldovan
Liviu Moldovan
Indoor Air Quality in an Orthopedic Hospital from Romania
Toxics
hospital
orthopedic
carbon dioxide
nitrogen dioxide
particulate matter
volatile organic compounds
title Indoor Air Quality in an Orthopedic Hospital from Romania
title_full Indoor Air Quality in an Orthopedic Hospital from Romania
title_fullStr Indoor Air Quality in an Orthopedic Hospital from Romania
title_full_unstemmed Indoor Air Quality in an Orthopedic Hospital from Romania
title_short Indoor Air Quality in an Orthopedic Hospital from Romania
title_sort indoor air quality in an orthopedic hospital from romania
topic hospital
orthopedic
carbon dioxide
nitrogen dioxide
particulate matter
volatile organic compounds
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/11/815
work_keys_str_mv AT flaviumoldovan indoorairqualityinanorthopedichospitalfromromania
AT liviumoldovan indoorairqualityinanorthopedichospitalfromromania