CENTRE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY

FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

BACHELOR IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY (HONS.)

ENV 650

AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH

LAB REPORT 1

INDOOR AIR QUALITY SAMPLING BY USING Q-TRAK AND DUST TRAK

NAME STUDENT ID GROUP

YUSRINA AFIFA BINTI MUHAMAD 2020899132 HS243 7D

YUSOFF

PREPARED FOR

DR. NOOR HAZIQAH BTE KAMALUDIN

DATE OF SUBMISSION

20TH JANUARY 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS
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No. Content Pages

1.0 Introduction 2

2.0 Objectives 3

3.0 Result and Discussion 4

4.0 Recommendation and Conclusion 8

References 9

Appendices 10

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

In last few decades, society has placed considerable amounts of time, money, and
effort into control and prevention of outdoor air pollution. Nowadays, however indoor air
quality has also important to explore its effect as people spend 90% of their time indoors
(USEPA, 2019) due to changes in social lifestyle. Indoor air pollution is defined as the
existence of pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter
(PM), inorganic compounds, physical chemicals and biological contaminants present at
higher concentration in indoor environment, contribute to negative effects on human
health (USEPA, 2019). Kavuncuoğlu & Koşan (2019) refers indoor air pollution to any
physical, chemical, and biological components of air in the indoor environment that can
contribute to polluted air in closed environment, including workplaces, homes, offices,
institutional buildings or commercial facilities that consequently pose to detrimental
effects on human.

Health implication arising from indoor air pollution commonly like asthma,
hypersensitivity pneumonitis and irritation. Furthermore, poor indoor air quality can also
lead to building-related illness (BRI) such as sick building syndrome (SBS), clinically
symptoms include headache, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea, and fatigue (Othman
et al., 2020) Therefore, in order to measures and determine the indoor air quality level
typically include temperature, humidity, air movement and other chemical air
contaminants such as carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), respirable
particulates (PM), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs). They required for
suitable instrument for the measurement besides, proper sampling technique and
reading.

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2.0 OBJECTIVES

2.1 To conduct indoor air quality (IAQ) by using Q-Trak and

Dust-Trak
2.2 To identify sources of IAQ pollutants
2.3 To determine the level of IAQ parameter and suitable
control measures.

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3.0 RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS

General sampling primarily was performed during the assessment to identify the
conditions present and any external factors that could affected on IAQ level in the
prayer room in medical laboratory technology (PPMLT) block. The observation included
review of air passage and distribution, the occupant activities, hygiene condition and
building materials, furnishing and equipment presented that may contribute to the
distribution, accumulation or the production of indoor air contaminants.

The IAQ sampling was carried out in prayer room during working hour. The indoor air
contaminants were divided into chemical air contaminants (carbon monoxide (CO),
formaldehyde, ozone (O3), respirable particulates (PM) and total volatile organic
compounds (TVOCs)) and ventilation performance indicator (carbon dioxide (CO 2).
Meanwhile, the physical parameters consisted of air temperature, relative humidity and
air movement.

The parameters for temperature, relative humidity, CO 2 and CO were measured by

using Q-Trak Indoor Air Quality Monitor (7565), while for PM, 0.4 micrometer (µm)
nozzle size was used and obtained through Portable TSI DustTrak Aerosol Monitor. The
nozzle with 0.4 micrometer (µm) in size was used for the PM due to lack of other sizes
for sampling. Each unit of the equipment was be calibrated in accordance with the
manufacturers’ instructions prior to the use to ensure proper sensor operation of the
equipment. Individual sensors are presented in the above of the measurement for each
parameter which depending on the sensor. Some IAQ parameters that supposed to be
included in the measurements however cannot be measured due to technical error and
unavailability some of the instrument parts, make them excluded from the sampling
measurement parameters. Therefore, only five parameters were included (CO, CO 2,
temperature, relative humidity, and PM4).

The IAQ sampling was conducted in between the time for Dhuhr and Asr prayer. The
prayer room rely on active ventilation (mechanical ventilating and air conditioning
system) MVAC was switched on during the sampling. All the instruments were be
attached together and the output parameter were displayed on the screen. The readings
for IAQ parameters were measured for 15 minutes. The sampling location was set to
one-minute real-time average (100% data logging). The instruments were placed and
being hold in the centre of the prayer room, as long as the sampling be located at least

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0.5 m from walls, corners, windows and not directly in front of air-conditioning system
units and not within 2 m of the door.

Result of sampling will be compared following the standards and guidelines by

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA Act 1994) under Industry Code of Practice
Indoor Air Quality 2010 (ICOP IAQ 2010). The recommended ranges and limits for IAQ
parameters measured are summarized in the following table.

Table 1. Recommended acceptable limit by ICOP IAQ 2010.

Parameter Acceptable Limits / Range

Air Temperature 23-26 ℃

Relative Humidity 40-70 %

Carbon monoxide (CO) 10 ppm (8 hrs.) *

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 1 000 ppm

Respirable Particulate 0.15 mg/m3 **

Table Notes:

 *Limit of aright-hour time -weighted average of airborne concentration

 **mg/m3 is milligrams per cubic meter of air at 25℃ and 1 atm. pressure.

The air sampling results for the indicator parameters measured during the
assessment are recorded as showed in the table below:

Table 2. Results of IAQ parameters sampling for prayer room in 15 minutes (1

minute interval).
Temperatur Relative CO2
Reading CO (ppm) PM4 (mg/m3)
e (℃) Humidity (rh%) (ppm)

1 26.3 64 2012 0 0.012

2 26.2 64.8 2057 0 0.013
3 26.2 64.9 2194 0 0.011
4 26.2 65.4 2233 0 0.014
5 26.2 65.5 2286 0 0.015
6 26.3 66.3 2291 0 0.016
7 26.2 64.7 2290 0 0.014
8 26.2 64.6 2190 0 0.013

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9 26.2 64.5 2137 0 0.016

10 26.1 64.6 2152 0 0.011
11 26.2 65 2104 0 0.015
12 26.2 64.4 2077 0 0.013
13 26.2 66.8 2221 0 0.015
14 26.1 64.8 2128 0 0.014
15 26 64.5 2095 0 0.012
Average 26.2 64.8 2161 0 0.015
Minimum 26.1 64.3 2039 0 0.013
Maximum 26.3 65.8 2325 0 0.016

Table above illustrate the level of physical parameter and indoor air contaminants
recorded in prayer room. Based on the results above, the temperature of the room
recorded 26.2℃ slightly higher than the acceptable limit, while the relative humidity
ranging between 40 – 70% of acceptable limit which is 64.8% respectively. Therefore,
the result indicated the physical IAQ level in the room fell within the recommended
comfort zone although the temperature slightly higher to the standard limit, probably due
to rapid interchange inside and outside movement by the students or staffs that use the
room. Therefore however, overall reading indicated that the local exhaust ventilation
system operated in the room was providing appropriate comfort conditions at the time of
the assessment.

Meanwhile, the reading of CO2 concentration measured in the room was 2161 ppm,
while no concentration of CO recorded. The result obtained indicated that the exposure
level of CO2 in the room had exceed 1000 ppm of the acceptable limit. As the time
during sampling was within Dhuhr and Asr prayer, the number of occupants keep varied
and increasing, besides the point of measurement was in the centre of the room where
the occupants were actively move, increased their breathing activities. Therefore,
contributed to the higher concentration of CO2. As according to Al-Dabbous et al.
(2013), the high number of Jemaah and their level of activities could affect the CO2 level
in mosque during Friday prayer. In addition, the increasing number of occupants
affected the air movement level and full closed windows and doors also be the
contributing factor (Azman and Salleh, 2013).

Besides, no CO concentration level was recorded in the room as no combustion

activities or any indoor combustion appliances that could elevated the level of CO. The

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elevation of CO might be contributed from infiltration of exhaust gases from

environmental tobacco smoke or mobile sources (Al-Khateeb et al., 2014).

The sampling result also indicated respirable particulate (PM 4) concentration in the
prayer room. The result measured was 0.015 mg/m3, remained within the recommended
limit ICOP standard of 0.15 mg/m3. Therefore, the concentrations of respirable
particulates in the prayer room are considered to be acceptable. The source contributor
was identified to be affected by the furniture dust, particle resuspended from prayer mat
and due to formation of secondary particles from reaction of gaseous pollutants in the
air (Rasli et al., 2019).

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4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

Therefore, some improvements are recommended to ensure much safer and comfort
indoor environment to the occupant.
 Regular maintenance and cleaning should be carried out upon the MVAC
system that serving the subjected area to alleviate indoor air quality-related
problems, where the air handling unit (AHU) is the main source for such system
need to be maintained in cleaner condition and regularly be checked.
 Ensuring no leakage incident occur such as water leakage or cracks in pipes at
the ablution area to prevent moulding that eventually affect IAQ level.
 Ensure the MVAC system adequately provide ventilation and AHU is operated
to the maximum speed and capacity with all the air dampers fully open.

5.0 CONCLUSION

Based on the finding, it is identified that the IAQ level in the prayer room measured
did fall slightly in the discomfort zone as the level of CO 2 concentration was slightly higher
and exceed the acceptable limit, eventually may affect the occupant health. Therefore, it is
required for further monitoring and other advanced sampling not only the environment,
instead the inhalation exposure level of air contaminants by the occupant also need to be
considered. It is to evaluate and determine other factors that might affect poor IAQ and to
predict the possible health effect arise from such poor IAQ condition.

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REFERENCES

Al-Dabbous, A.N., Khan, A.R., Al-Rashidi, M.S. and Awadi, L. (2013). Carbon dioxide
and volatile organic compounds levels in mosque in hot arid climate. Indoor and
Built Environment, 22(2): 456–464. https://doi.org/10.1177/ 1420326X12441807.
Azman H. & E. Salleh (2013). Indoor thermal condition in the air-conditioned mosque
building: A case during Friday Prayer in Malaysia, 2nd National Conference of
Engineering Technology (NCET) 1-2 July 2013, Setia Alam, Selangor.Malaysia.
page.170-181. ISBN 978-967-99984-3-6
El Khateeb, K. M., Heen, Z. H. A., & Al Madhoun, W. (2014, September). Determining
levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and thermal comfort inside IUG
offices and its effect on the employees. In The Fifth International Conference on
Engineering and Sustainability (ICES5). The Islamic University of Gaza.
Kavuncuoğlu, D., & Koşan, Z. (2019). Indoor air pollution. Journal of Surgery and
Medicine, 3(12). https://doi.org/10.28982/josam.590825
Lazović, I., Stevanović, Ž. M., Jovašević-Stojanović, M., Živković, M. M., & Banjac, M. J.
(2016). Impact of CO2 concentration on indoor air quality and correlation with
relative humidity and indoor air temperature in school buildings in
Serbia. Thermal Science, 20, S297-S307.
Othman, I., Al-Ashmori, Y. Y., Rahmawati, Y., Mugahed Amran, Y. H., & Al-Bared, M. A.
M. (2020). The level of Building Information Modelling (BIM) Implementation in
Malaysia. Ain Shams Engineering Journal.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2020.04.007
Rasli, N.B.I., Ismail, M.R., Ramli, N.A., Shith, S., Mohamad Nazir, A.U., Md Yusof,
N.F.F. and Zainordin, N.S. (2019). Compliance of Indoor Air Contaminants within
the Main Prayer Halls of Mosques in Malacca with Malaysia’s Indoor Air Quality
Standard. Journal of Construction in Developing Countries, 24(2), pp.105–121.
doi:10.21315/jcdc2019.24.2.5.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2019, January 18). Introduction to
Indoor Air Quality. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-
air-quality

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APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Q-Trak Indoor Air Quality Appendix 2: Portable TSI DustTrak

Monitor (7565) used for IAQ sampling Aerosol Monitor used for PM2.5 sampling

Appendix 3: Q-Trak be set up far from walls, Appendix 4: Example of Q-Trak reading
and MVAC system and 2 m far from the that automatically appeared
entrance

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