Assessment of indoor air quality in Tunisian childcare establishments
Maintaining healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) in childcare settings is essential for infants and young children, as it directly impacts their early learning, development, and overall well-being. Given their vulnerability, continuous IAQ monitoring in these environments is crucial to ensuring a safe a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AIMS Press
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | AIMS Environmental Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/environsci.2025016 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850125042853085184 |
|---|---|
| author | Meher Cheberli Marwa Jabberi Sami Ayari Jamel Ben Nasr Habib Chouchane Ameur Cherif Hadda-Imene Ouzari Haitham Sghaier |
| author_facet | Meher Cheberli Marwa Jabberi Sami Ayari Jamel Ben Nasr Habib Chouchane Ameur Cherif Hadda-Imene Ouzari Haitham Sghaier |
| author_sort | Meher Cheberli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Maintaining healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) in childcare settings is essential for infants and young children, as it directly impacts their early learning, development, and overall well-being. Given their vulnerability, continuous IAQ monitoring in these environments is crucial to ensuring a safe and supportive atmosphere. This study aimed to assess IAQ factors that may affect occupant health by measuring indoor concentrations of particulate matter (PM10), selected gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and formaldehyde (CH2O), and thermal conditions including temperature and relative humidity. Additionally, airborne microorganism levels were analyzed, and potential environmental factors influencing microbial abundance were investigated in three childcare centers in Megrine, Tunisia, across three seasonal periods. Results revealed frequent occurrences of hygrothermal discomfort and elevated levels of CO2, CH2O, and PM10, particularly in overcrowded classrooms with poor ventilation and heating. Pathogenic bacterial species, including Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus licheniformis, were repeatedly detected. Significant correlations were found between bacterial abundance and environmental factors such as PM10, CO2 levels, temperature, and humidity. These findings provide valuable insights into IAQ dynamics in childcare environments, highlighting the need for improved ventilation and air quality management strategies to safeguard children's health and well-being. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a8781de0c6964beabf237a191d55cb38 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2372-0352 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | AIMS Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AIMS Environmental Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-a8781de0c6964beabf237a191d55cb382025-08-20T02:34:12ZengAIMS PressAIMS Environmental Science2372-03522025-04-0112235237210.3934/environsci.2025016Assessment of indoor air quality in Tunisian childcare establishmentsMeher Cheberli0Marwa Jabberi1Sami Ayari2Jamel Ben Nasr3Habib Chouchane4Ameur Cherif5Hadda-Imene Ouzari6Haitham Sghaier7Laboratory Energy and Matter for Development of Nuclear Sciences LR16CNSTN02, National Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technology, Sidi Thabet Technopark, 2020, TunisiaLaboratory Energy and Matter for Development of Nuclear Sciences LR16CNSTN02, National Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technology, Sidi Thabet Technopark, 2020, TunisiaLaboratory of Microorganisms and Active Biomolecules LR03ES03, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tunis El Manar, 2092 Tunis, TunisiaNational Agronomic Institute of Tunis, Tunisia 43 Av. Charles Nicolle, Tunis 1082, University of Carthage, TunisiaUniv. Manouba, ISBST, BVBGR-LR11ES31, Biotechpole Sidi Thabet, 2020, Ariana, TunisiaUniv. Manouba, ISBST, BVBGR-LR11ES31, Biotechpole Sidi Thabet, 2020, Ariana, TunisiaLaboratory of Microorganisms and Active Biomolecules LR03ES03, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tunis El Manar, 2092 Tunis, TunisiaLaboratory Energy and Matter for Development of Nuclear Sciences LR16CNSTN02, National Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technology, Sidi Thabet Technopark, 2020, TunisiaMaintaining healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) in childcare settings is essential for infants and young children, as it directly impacts their early learning, development, and overall well-being. Given their vulnerability, continuous IAQ monitoring in these environments is crucial to ensuring a safe and supportive atmosphere. This study aimed to assess IAQ factors that may affect occupant health by measuring indoor concentrations of particulate matter (PM10), selected gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and formaldehyde (CH2O), and thermal conditions including temperature and relative humidity. Additionally, airborne microorganism levels were analyzed, and potential environmental factors influencing microbial abundance were investigated in three childcare centers in Megrine, Tunisia, across three seasonal periods. Results revealed frequent occurrences of hygrothermal discomfort and elevated levels of CO2, CH2O, and PM10, particularly in overcrowded classrooms with poor ventilation and heating. Pathogenic bacterial species, including Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus licheniformis, were repeatedly detected. Significant correlations were found between bacterial abundance and environmental factors such as PM10, CO2 levels, temperature, and humidity. These findings provide valuable insights into IAQ dynamics in childcare environments, highlighting the need for improved ventilation and air quality management strategies to safeguard children's health and well-being.https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/environsci.2025016airborne bacteriachildcare facilitiesindoor air qualitymetataxonomic analysisparticulate matterphysicochemical parameters |
| spellingShingle | Meher Cheberli Marwa Jabberi Sami Ayari Jamel Ben Nasr Habib Chouchane Ameur Cherif Hadda-Imene Ouzari Haitham Sghaier Assessment of indoor air quality in Tunisian childcare establishments AIMS Environmental Science airborne bacteria childcare facilities indoor air quality metataxonomic analysis particulate matter physicochemical parameters |
| title | Assessment of indoor air quality in Tunisian childcare establishments |
| title_full | Assessment of indoor air quality in Tunisian childcare establishments |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of indoor air quality in Tunisian childcare establishments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of indoor air quality in Tunisian childcare establishments |
| title_short | Assessment of indoor air quality in Tunisian childcare establishments |
| title_sort | assessment of indoor air quality in tunisian childcare establishments |
| topic | airborne bacteria childcare facilities indoor air quality metataxonomic analysis particulate matter physicochemical parameters |
| url | https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/environsci.2025016 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mehercheberli assessmentofindoorairqualityintunisianchildcareestablishments AT marwajabberi assessmentofindoorairqualityintunisianchildcareestablishments AT samiayari assessmentofindoorairqualityintunisianchildcareestablishments AT jamelbennasr assessmentofindoorairqualityintunisianchildcareestablishments AT habibchouchane assessmentofindoorairqualityintunisianchildcareestablishments AT ameurcherif assessmentofindoorairqualityintunisianchildcareestablishments AT haddaimeneouzari assessmentofindoorairqualityintunisianchildcareestablishments AT haithamsghaier assessmentofindoorairqualityintunisianchildcareestablishments |