Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
North-West University Mafikeng, Mahikeng, South Africa.
Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 6;14(1):26885. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-78160-5.
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is crucial to environmental health significantly impacting on the well-being and productivity of building occupants. Several studies have explored various aspects of IAQ in non-tropical regions but there is limited information on how seasonal variations affect IAQ in hot-humid climates like Enugu, Nigeria. This study investigated seasonal changes in key indoor air parameters including CO, CO, HCHO, TVOC, temperature, RH, PM, and AQI across rainy and dry seasons in 58 government offices in Enugu, and evaluated how these fluctuations relate to architectural features of the offices. Using a mixed-methods approach, data collection involved qualitative assessments of building design attributes alongside quantitative IAQ measurements taken with the BOSEAN T-Z01Pro detector. Seasonal variations were analyzed using paired T-tests, ANOVA, and regression models. The results revealed a marked increase in pollutant concentrations during the dry season (p < 0.001-0.005), resulting in a poorer air quality index compared to the rainy season. Architectural features accounted for 68.5% of the variability in AQI (R = 0.685, p = 0.000), with casement windows being significantly associated with better air quality (Exp B = -4.217, p = 0.013) These shows that the dry season poses a greater risk to IAQ which is worsened in offices where projecting windows were used, potentially impacting health and productivity. The study emphasizes the need to address seasonal IAQ differences when designing office buildings in tropical regions. Design architects can help reduce seasonal air quality challenges and support healthier, more productive indoor environments by incorporating ventilation strategies, such as the use of casement windows. Further research should include long-term monitoring across various settings and additional IAQ parameters for better understanding of IAQ dynamics.
室内空气质量（IAQ）对环境卫生至关重要，显著影响着建筑物使用者的健康和生产力。多项研究已经探索了非热带地区的室内空气质量的各个方面，但对于像尼日利亚埃努古这样的湿热气候中季节性变化如何影响室内空气质量的信息有限。本研究调查了关键室内空气参数的季节性变化，包括 CO、CO2、HCHO、TVOC、温度、RH、PM 和 AQI，横跨埃努古的 58 个政府办公室的雨季和旱季，并评估了这些波动如何与办公室的建筑特征相关。使用混合方法，数据收集涉及建筑物设计属性的定性评估以及使用 BOSEAN T-Z01Pro 探测器进行的定量室内空气质量测量。使用配对 T 检验、方差分析和回归模型分析季节性变化。结果表明，在旱季污染物浓度明显增加（p < 0.001-0.005），导致空气质量指数比雨季差。建筑特征占 AQI 可变性的 68.5%（R = 0.685，p = 0.000），窗扇窗与更好的空气质量显著相关（Exp B = -4.217，p = 0.013），这表明旱季对室内空气质量的风险更大，在使用凸窗的办公室中情况更糟，可能会影响健康和生产力。研究强调，在设计热带地区的办公大楼时，需要解决季节性室内空气质量差异。设计建筑师可以通过采用通风策略，如使用窗扇窗，帮助减少季节性空气质量挑战，并支持更健康、更高效的室内环境。应进行进一步研究，包括在不同环境和额外的室内空气质量参数中进行长期监测，以更好地了解室内空气质量动态。
