Formation of cluster mode particles (1-3 nm) in preschools

Mehdi Amouei Torkmahalleh; Kamila Turganova; Zhuldyz Zhigulina; Tomiris Madiyarova; Enoch Kwasi Adotey; Milad Malekipirbazari; Giorgio Buonanno; Luca Stabile

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151756

Formation of cluster mode particles (1-3 nm) in preschools

Sci Total Environ. 2022 Apr 20:818:151756. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151756. Epub 2021 Nov 23.

Authors

Mehdi Amouei Torkmahalleh¹, Kamila Turganova², Zhuldyz Zhigulina², Tomiris Madiyarova², Enoch Kwasi Adotey², Milad Malekipirbazari³, Giorgio Buonanno⁴, Luca Stabile⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan. Electronic address: mehdi.torkmahalleh@nu.edu.kz.
² Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan.
³ Department of Industrial Engineering, Bilkent University, 06800 Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey.
⁴ Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, via Di Biasio 43, Cassino 03043, Italy.

PMID: 34822884
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151756

Abstract

This study is the first study that reports the cluster particle (1-3 nm) formation (CPF) in two modern preschools located in Nur-Sultan city of Kazakhstan from October 28 to November 27, 2019. The average particle number concentration and mode diameter values during major CPF events in Preschool I and Preschool II were found to be 1.90 × 10⁶ (SD 6.43 × 10⁶) particles/cm³ and 1.60 (SD 0.85) nm, and 1.11 × 10⁹ (SD 5.46 × 10⁹) particles/cm³ and 2.16 (SD 1.47) nm, respectively. The ultraviolet PM concentration reached as high as 7 μg/m³ in one of the measurement days. The estimated emission rate in Preschool I for CPF events was 9.57 × 10⁹ (SD 1.92 × 10⁹) particles/min. For Preschool II, the emission rate was 7.25 × 10⁹ (SD 12.4 × 10⁹) particles/min. We identified primary cluster particles (CPs) emitted directly from the sources such as candle burning, and secondary CPs formed as a result of the oxidation of indoor VOCs or smoking VOCs. The secondary CPs are likely to be SOA. Indoor VOCs were mainly emitted during cleaning activities as well as during painting and gluing. Indoor VOCs are the controlling factors in the CPF events. Changes in the training and cleaning programs may result in significant reductions in the exposure of the children to CPs.

Keywords: Cleaning detergents; Cluster mode particles; Ozone; Preschool; SOA.

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution, Indoor* / analysis
Child
Child, Preschool
Humans
Particle Size
Particulate Matter / analysis
Schools

Substances

Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter