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Abstract(s)
Devido à recente pandemia COVID-19, as pessoas, de uma forma geral, e os portugueses especificamente, têm vindo a passar mais tempo em ambientes fechados, nomeadamente dentro das suas habitações, por forma a cumprirem o isolamento social e a obrigatoriedade do teletrabalho, estando assim, mais expostos a eventuais poluentes do ar interior.
Para além da contaminação atmosférica no exterior dos edifícios, a exposição a poluentes no interior das habitações contribui fundamentalmente para a exposição humana global, podendo condicionar a expressividade e gravidade das doenças respiratórias, cardiovasculares e alérgicas.
A presente investigação teve como principal objetivo avaliar a qualidade do ar interior (QAI) das habitações de trabalhadores de uma Instituição de Ensino Superior (IES) sedeada na zona centro do País, que se encontravam em teletrabalho.
Foram estudadas as concentrações no ar interior das habitações (expostos) e nos locais de trabalho habituais (controlo), através da análise dos parâmetros ambientais, dióxido de carbono (CO2), monóxido de carbono (CO), formaldeído (CH2O), partículas de diâmetro equivalente inferior a 10 μm (PM10), partículas de diâmetro equivalente inferior a 5 μm (PM5,0), partículas de diâmetro equivalente inferior a 2,5 μm (PM2,5), partículas de diâmetro equivalente inferior a 1 μm (PM1,0), partículas de diâmetro equivalente inferior a 0,5 μm (PM0,5), partículas de diâmetro equivalente inferior a 0,3 μm (PM0,3) e partículas ultrafinas, avaliando igualmente o conforto térmico, expresso pelas variáveis temperatura do ar (T°), humidade relativa (Hr) e velocidade do ar.
Pretendeu-se, simultaneamente avaliar a prevalência de sinais, sintomas e patologias respiratórias e alérgicas dos trabalhadores que se encontravam em teletrabalho, nas suas habitações. Foi ainda objetivo desta investigação, verificar se existia alguma relação entre a QAI e a qualidade do ar ambiente, pelo que os poluentes a observar no ar interior também foram observados no ar exterior.
O estudo classificou-se de nível II, do tipo observacional e de linha temporal transversal. A amostragem foi não probabilística quanto ao tipo e por conveniência quanto à técnica.
Para a realização deste estudo procedeu-se à avaliação da qualidade do ar em 70 habitações pertencentes a trabalhadores de uma IES, que se encontravam localizadas no centro da cidade, em zonas suburbanas e em zonas rurais, bem como à avaliação da perceção da sua condição de saúde.
A perceção da condição de saúde dos trabalhadores foi obtida pela aplicação de um questionário através do qual se recolheu informação sobre sinais, sintomas e doenças destes.
Para além da avaliação dos poluentes do ar interior nas habitações, aquando do confinamento dos trabalhadores, procedeu-se posteriormente à avaliação da qualidade do ar dos seus locais de trabalho, quando estes regressaram ao trabalho, de forma presencial.
A amostra foi constituída por 70 habitações, por 70 trabalhadores e por 18 locais de trabalho. Os dados recolhidos foram posteriormente tratados com recurso ao software estatístico SPSS, versão 27.0. A interpretação dos testes estatísticos foi realizada com base no nível de significância de p=0,05, com intervalo de confiança de 95%.
Verificou-se que a maioria das habitações estudadas tinha condições de habitabilidade, embora a concentração de vários poluentes possam sugerir a oportunidade de efetuar intervenções que melhorem a sua qualidade, controlando as fontes poluentes e promovendo uma maior ventilação.
Foi identificado também algumas relações entre a qualidade do ar interior e sinais, sintomas e doenças, nos ocupantes dos edifícios.
Os locais de trabalho revelaram valores elevados e preocupantes de CH2O, muito provavelmente devido às recentes requalificações e também devido ao novo mobiliário/equipamento que foi adquirido, pelo que é imperioso tomar medidas rápidas de eliminação ou diminuição das concentrações no interior dos edifícios avaliados, para níveis abaixo do valor limiar de proteção legislado.
Estes resultados demonstraram a oportunidade de efetuar intervenções corretivas, nomeadamente reduzindo as fontes emissoras e promovendo uma maior ventilação, principalmente a natural, de forma a que seja reduzida a exposição dos trabalhadores a situações de risco.
Existe um longo caminho a percorrer na minimização dos impactes na saúde resultantes da exposição aos fatores de risco ambientais, designadamente aos agentes químicos. É essencial apoiar o desenvolvimento de investigação aplicada e multidisciplinar, no sentido de se avaliarem as causas, os mecanismos e os efeitos nas várias vertentes do binómio ambiente e saúde. Deve-se também apostar na divulgação dos resultados e conclusões das diversas investigações que se vão fazendo sobre esta temática, no sentido de se promover uma melhor informação.
Finalmente, é fundamental definir orientações de prevenção, controlo e redução dos riscos inerentes, no sentido da salvaguarda da saúde e segurança de todos os trabalhadores.
Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic situation, people, in general, and the Portuguese people specifically, have been spending more time indoors, particularly inside their homes, in order to comply with social isolation and with the obligation of teleworking, thus being more exposed to possible pollutants of indoor air. In addition to atmospheric contamination outside buildings, exposure to pollutants inside homes contributes essentially to global human exposure, and may condition the extent and severity of respiratory, cardiovascular and allergic diseases. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the indoor air quality (IAQ) at the homes of the workers of a Portuguese Higher Education Institution (HEI), in the Center Region of the country, working online due to the pandemic situation. Concentrations in the indoor air housing (exposed) and at the usual workplaces (control) were studied through the analysis of the following environmental parameters: carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (CH2O), particles with an equivalent diameter of less than 10 μm (PM10), particles with an equivalent diameter of less than 5 μm (PM5.0), particles with an equivalent diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), particles with an equivalent diameter of less than 1 μm (PM1.0), particles with an equivalent diameter of less than 0.5 μm (PM0.5), particles with an equivalent diameter of less than 0.3 μm (PM0.3), and ultrafine particles, also evaluating the thermal comfort measured by the variables air temperature (T°), relative humidity (Hr) and air velocity. It was intended, simultaneously, to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory and allergic signs, symptoms and pathologies of workers who were at home working online. It was also a goal of this research to verify if there was any relationship between IAQ and ambient air quality, so pollutants to be observed in indoor air were also observed in the outside air. We classified the study of level II, observational type, and cross-sectional timeline. The sampling was non-probabilistic regarding the type and convenience regarding the technique. To carry out this study, the air quality was evaluated in 70 houses of the HEI workers, which were located in the city center, in suburban areas and in rural areas, and it was also assessed the perception of their health condition. The perception of the worker’s health conditions was obtained using the information collected through a questionnaire about signs, symptoms, and diseases. In addition to the evaluation of indoor air pollutants at worker’s houses during confinement, the air quality of their workplaces, when they returned to face-to-face mode was, subsequently, assessed. The sample comprised 70 houses, 70 workers and 18 workplaces. The data collected were later processed using the statistical software SPSS, version 27.0. The interpretation of statistical tests was performed based on the significance level of p=0.05, with a confidence interval of 95%. It was found that most of the houses studied had habitability, although the concentration of several pollutants may suggest the opportunity to carry out interventions that could improve the quality through the control of pollutant sources and promotion of greater ventilation. We also identified some relationships between indoor air quality and the signs, symptoms, and diseases of the inhabitants of the buildings. Workplaces have shown high and worrying CH2O values, most likely due to recent requalification and, also, due to the new furniture/equipment that was acquired, so it is imperious to take rapid measures inside the evaluated buildings to eliminate or decrease concentrations to levels below the threshold value of protection provided by law. These results demonstrated the opportunity to carry out corrective interventions, in particular by reducing issuing sources and promoting greater natural ventilation, in order to reduce workers' exposure to risk situations. There is a long way to go to minimize health impacts from exposure to environmental risk factors, including chemical agents. It is essential to support the development of applied and multidisciplinary research to evaluate the causes, mechanisms, and effects on the several aspects of the environment-health binomial. To promote better information, it is necessary to invest on the dissemination of the results and the conclusions of the several research projects on this topic. Finally, it is crucial to define guidelines for the prevention, control and reduction of the inherent risks to safeguard the health and safety of all workers.
Due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic situation, people, in general, and the Portuguese people specifically, have been spending more time indoors, particularly inside their homes, in order to comply with social isolation and with the obligation of teleworking, thus being more exposed to possible pollutants of indoor air. In addition to atmospheric contamination outside buildings, exposure to pollutants inside homes contributes essentially to global human exposure, and may condition the extent and severity of respiratory, cardiovascular and allergic diseases. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the indoor air quality (IAQ) at the homes of the workers of a Portuguese Higher Education Institution (HEI), in the Center Region of the country, working online due to the pandemic situation. Concentrations in the indoor air housing (exposed) and at the usual workplaces (control) were studied through the analysis of the following environmental parameters: carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (CH2O), particles with an equivalent diameter of less than 10 μm (PM10), particles with an equivalent diameter of less than 5 μm (PM5.0), particles with an equivalent diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), particles with an equivalent diameter of less than 1 μm (PM1.0), particles with an equivalent diameter of less than 0.5 μm (PM0.5), particles with an equivalent diameter of less than 0.3 μm (PM0.3), and ultrafine particles, also evaluating the thermal comfort measured by the variables air temperature (T°), relative humidity (Hr) and air velocity. It was intended, simultaneously, to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory and allergic signs, symptoms and pathologies of workers who were at home working online. It was also a goal of this research to verify if there was any relationship between IAQ and ambient air quality, so pollutants to be observed in indoor air were also observed in the outside air. We classified the study of level II, observational type, and cross-sectional timeline. The sampling was non-probabilistic regarding the type and convenience regarding the technique. To carry out this study, the air quality was evaluated in 70 houses of the HEI workers, which were located in the city center, in suburban areas and in rural areas, and it was also assessed the perception of their health condition. The perception of the worker’s health conditions was obtained using the information collected through a questionnaire about signs, symptoms, and diseases. In addition to the evaluation of indoor air pollutants at worker’s houses during confinement, the air quality of their workplaces, when they returned to face-to-face mode was, subsequently, assessed. The sample comprised 70 houses, 70 workers and 18 workplaces. The data collected were later processed using the statistical software SPSS, version 27.0. The interpretation of statistical tests was performed based on the significance level of p=0.05, with a confidence interval of 95%. It was found that most of the houses studied had habitability, although the concentration of several pollutants may suggest the opportunity to carry out interventions that could improve the quality through the control of pollutant sources and promotion of greater ventilation. We also identified some relationships between indoor air quality and the signs, symptoms, and diseases of the inhabitants of the buildings. Workplaces have shown high and worrying CH2O values, most likely due to recent requalification and, also, due to the new furniture/equipment that was acquired, so it is imperious to take rapid measures inside the evaluated buildings to eliminate or decrease concentrations to levels below the threshold value of protection provided by law. These results demonstrated the opportunity to carry out corrective interventions, in particular by reducing issuing sources and promoting greater natural ventilation, in order to reduce workers' exposure to risk situations. There is a long way to go to minimize health impacts from exposure to environmental risk factors, including chemical agents. It is essential to support the development of applied and multidisciplinary research to evaluate the causes, mechanisms, and effects on the several aspects of the environment-health binomial. To promote better information, it is necessary to invest on the dissemination of the results and the conclusions of the several research projects on this topic. Finally, it is crucial to define guidelines for the prevention, control and reduction of the inherent risks to safeguard the health and safety of all workers.
Description
Relatório apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para o cumprimento do programa de Pós-Doutoramento em Impacto da Qualidade do Ar na Saúde Humana
Keywords
Qualidade do ar Saúde Poluentes atmosféricos Partículas Teletrabalho Habitações COVID-19 Confinamento Sinais Sintomas Patologias respiratórias Air quality Health Air pollutants Particles Telework Housing COVID-19 Confinement Respiratory signs Symptoms Pathologies