The objective of this work was to evaluate the indoor-outdoor particle size distribution in elementary schools located in central parts of Tehran and to evaluate those parameters that could be influencing the indoor particles concentrations in the classrooms. Concentrations of particles including PM10, PM2.5 and PM1.0, as some of the main air pollutants in Tehran, were measured in the schools, during winter 2009. It was found that the average indoor concentrations of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1.0 were 274 µg/m3, 42 µg/m3 and 19 µg/m3, respectively, while the outdoor concentrations for these particles were 140 µg/m3, 38 µg/m3 and 22 µg/m3, respectively. The main factors influencing indoor particle pollution were found to be the outdoor concentrations of the particles and the physical activity of the students, but other factors such as the differences between indoor and outdoor temperatures, class size dimensions and types of boards in the classrooms had negligible effects.
BoldoELinaresCLumbrerasJBorgeRNarrosAGarcia-PerezJFernandez-NavarroPPerez-GomezBAragonesNRamisRPollanMMorenoTKaranasiouALopez-AbenteG: Health impact assessment of a reduction of ambient PM2.5 levels in Spain: Environ Int2011;37:342–348.
2.
BernsteinAJAlexisNBacchusHBernsteinILFritzPHornerELiNMasonSNelAOulletteJReijulaKReponenTSeltzerJSmithATarloSM: The health effects of nonindustrial indoor air pollution: J Allergy Clin Immunol2008;121:585–591.
3.
WisemanCLSZereiniF: Airborne particulate matter, Platinum group elements and human health: a review of recent evidence: Sci Total Environ2009;407:2493–2500.
4.
GramotnevGRistovskiZ: Experimental investigation of ultra fine particle size distribution near a busy road: Atmos Environ2004;38:1767–1777.
5.
HalekFKianpour-RadMKavousirahimA: Seasonal variation in ambient PM mass and number concentrations (Case study: Tehran, Iran): Environ Monit Asses2010;169:501–507.
6.
KapposADBruckmannPEikmannTEnglertNHeinrichUHppePKochEKrauseGHMKreylingWGRauchfussKRomboutPSchulz-KlempVThielWRWichmannHE: Health effects of particles in ambient air: Int J Hyg Environ Health2004;207:399–407.
7.
ZhuYHindsWCKimSSioutasS: Concentration and size distribution of ultrafine particles near a major highway: J Air Waste Manag Assoc2002;52:1032–1042.
8.
PopeCAIIIBurnettRTThunMJCalleEEKrewskiDItoKThurstonGD: Lung cancer, cardiopulmonary mortality, and long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution: J Am Med Assoc2002;287:1132–1141.
9.
SmithRLSpitznerDKimYFuentesM: Threshold dependence of mortality effects for fine and coarse particles in Phoenix, Arizona: J Air Waste Manag Assoc2000;50:1367–1379.
10.
SchwartzJNeasLM: Fine particles are more strongly associated than coarse particles with acute respiratory health effects in schoolchildren: Epidemiology2000;11:6–10.
11.
SongSLeeKLeeYMLeeJHLeeSYuSDPaekD: Acute health effects of urban fine and ultrafine particles on children with atopic dermatitis: Environ Res2011;111:394–399.
12.
ChalupaDCMorrowPEOberdorsterGUtellMJFramptonMW: Ultrafine particle deposition in subjects with asthma: Environ Health Perspec2004;112:879–882.
13.
EinarssonRMunirAKMDreborgSKG: Allergens in school dust. 2. Major mite (DER-P-1, DER-F-1) allergens in dust from Swedish schools: J Allergy Clin Immun1995;95:1049–1053.
14.
TortoleroSRBartholomewLKTyrrellSAbramsonSLSockriderMMMarkhamCMWhiteheadLWParcelGS: Environmental allergens and irritants in schools: a focus on asthma: J School Health2002;72:33–38.
15.
AtashF: The deterioration of urban environments in developing countries: Mitigating the air pollution crisis in Tehran, Iran: Cities2007;24:399–409.
16.
FaryadiShTaheriSh: Interconnections of Urban Green Spaces and Environmental Quality of Tehran: Int J Environ Res2009;3:199–208.
17.
DiapouliEChaloulakouAMihalopoulosNSpirellisN: Indoor and outdoor PM mass and number concentrations at schools in the Athens area: Environ Monit Assess2008;136:13–20.
18.
EkmekciogluDKeskinSS: Characterization of indoor air particulate matter in selected elementary schools in Istanbul Turkey: Indoor Built Environ2007;16:169–176.
19.
SchwartzJ: Air pollution and children’s health: Pediatrics2004;113:1037–1043.
20.
WheelerAJWilliamsIBeaumontRAHamiltonRS: Characterization of particulate matter sampled during a study of children’s personal exposure to airborne matter in a UK urban environment: Environ Monit Asses2000;65:69–77.
21.
HeudorfUNeitzertVSparkJ: Particulate matter and carbon dioxide in classrooms – The impact of cleaning and ventilation: Int J Hyg Environ Health2009;212:45–55.
22.
SalviS: Health effects of ambient air pollution in children: Paed Resp Rev2007;8:275–280.
23.
BennettWDZemanKL: Deposition of fine particles in children spontaneously breathing at rest: Inhal Toxicol1998;10:831–842.
24.
25.
FrommeHDiemerJDietrichSCyrysJHeinrichJLangWKiranogluMTwardellaD: Chemical and morphological properties of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) in school classrooms and outdoor air: Atmos Environ2008;42:6597–6605.
26.
McCormackMCBreyssePNHanselNNMatsuiECTonorezosESCurtin-BrosnanJWilliamsDLBuckleyTJEgglestonPADietteGB: Common household activities are associated with elevated particulate matter concentrations in bedrooms of inner-city Baltimore pre-school children: Environ Res2008;106:148–155.
27.
LiuYChenRShenXMaoX: Wintertime indoor air levels of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1.0 at public places and their contributions to TSP: Environ Int2004;30:189–197.
