No abstract

Air pollution sources in indoor area are one of the main factors for reducing indoor air quality of locations. In the current research, factors affecting indoor air quality and its symptoms are evaluate as case study in an office building in Mashhad (Iran). In order to conduct this descriptive-analytical study, gas pollutants affecting indoor air quality were determined using portable analysis systems. Alberta Indoor Air Quality Toolkit was used in order to study sick building syndrome. Findings indicated that 21% of staffs viewed labor environment conditions as inappropriate and they were mostly compliant about feeling of dusty air, fatigue and headache. In addition, findings showed that O3, VOC, PM10, PM2.5, CO, CO2 parameters, Formaldehyde, temperature, sound and humidity were at standard level. Indicators of indoor air quality, in addition to the stress and depression interference on employee performance and satisfaction were at acceptable level.

Graphical abstract

Air pollution is the major health concern in modern societies, especially in countries with arid and aggressive climate. Nowadays extensive research has been carried out to identify air pollution and its control. The main aim of this study is determine the atmospheric arsenic deposition concentration in Gonabad County in northeast Iran. In this cross-sectional study, the concentration of arsenic was measured by collecting of PM10 deposition from the ambient air of Gonabad urban areas. Samples were firstly taken by jar test method in four one-month periods in 2016 from Taleghani st., Imam Khomeini sq., Mend sq., Ghaffari st., and Sadi st., and arsenic concentration in the particles were determined by the Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). The results indicated that the maximum and minimum concentrations (average) of particles PM10 depositing was observed in Taleghani st. about 10.395 ± 1.183 µg/kg and Imam Khomeini sq. about 4.394 ± 0.961 µg/kg, respectively. The maximum and minimum concentration of arsenic concentrations were estimated to be respectively 12.080 and 3.560 µg/kg in December and September, respectively. The results showed that in the northern part of the city, due to the wind blow, there are more particles in the air and people living in these areas are more exposed to arsenic. Therefore, residents of these areas need more actions that are preventive.