Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Patterns in Diverse Occupational Facilities across Colorado, and Outdoor Pollution Effects

BENJAMIN SWANSON, Rachel Stevens, Will Clagett, Nicholas Good, Gavin McMeeking, Kate Patterson, Kathy Boyer, Odessa Gomez, Kristen Good, Ellison Carter, Colorado State University

     Abstract Number: 748
     Working Group: Identifying and Addressing Disparate Health and Social Impacts of Exposure to Aerosols and Other Contaminants across Continents, Communities, and Microenvironments

Abstract
Workplaces significantly influence public health due to the considerable time people spend there. Our study fills the knowledge gap on pollutant infiltration in occupational spaces, focusing on the relationship between indoor and outdoor particulate matter (PM). We examined indoor air quality (IAQ) and ventilation systems in 28 diverse facilities across Colorado, in partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

We measured IAQ parameters, including CO₂, NO₂, NO, O₃, PM₁/₂.₅/₁₀, PN₁/₂.₅/₁₀, and TVOCs, underscoring the complexity of indoor air pollution. Our key focus was the differences between indoor and outdoor fine PM levels, known to pose significant health risks. We evaluated indoor and outdoor PM at all workplaces, identifying factors influencing indoor PM exposure.

Our findings revealed significant differences in the correlations between indoor and outdoor PM levels (Spearman correlations from 0.23 to 0.96). No strong trend was observed between workplace-averaged ratios of indoor to outdoor PM concentrations and their pairwise correlation coefficients. However, in workplaces where indoor PM concentration was >90% of outdoor concentration, a negative trend was observed (Slope = -7.1; R2 = 0.69), suggesting less infiltration and more internal PM generation.

Our study provides insights into the IAQ profiles of diverse workplaces, aiding in the enhancement of IAQ management strategies. Given the variety of facilities and their locations in Colorado, our findings should inform local and regional air quality policies.