Perceived Air Quality of different sources of smell evaluated by primary school children

Abstract

Our sensory system (nose) could predict the perceived odour intensity of various materials relatively well and in many cases the nose seems to be a better receptor of pollutants than some equipment. To test this ability with children, odour tests were performed as part of a study performed with 335 primary school children in the air quality test chamber of the SenseLab. Two similar experiments were conducted to assess the identification of potentially recognizable odours for children. The different sources of odour were placed in different containers and the children were asked how they feel about the smell and to identify the source of smell. There were statistically significant differences among children’s evaluations of different smells and it was difficult for them to identify certain sources of smell.

First SenseLab studies with primary school children: exposure to different environmental configurations in the experience room

“…In the Experience room two studies were performed: an exposure study, to test the acceptability of light, sound, smell, temperature and draught with different environmental configurations; and a workshop, to identify current problems in the classroom (part 1) and to conceptualise design solutions by the children to solve these problems (part 2). In each of the test chambers, a test was performed that relates respectively to air (smell), thermal, lighting and acoustical quality (Armijos Moya, Zhang, and Bluyssen 2019;Bluyssen et al 2019;Ortiz, Zhang, and Bluyssen 2019;Zhang, Tenpierik, and Bluyssen 2019). This paper reports the exposure study in the Experience room of the SenseLab in which children were exposed to different environmental configurations in order to study modal (main), crossmodal, interaction effects and relationships between indoor environmental factors.…”