The comparative analysis of the indoor air pollutants in occupied apartments at residential area and industrial area in dubai, united arab emirates

Abstract

Most of the research on indoor air pollutants in the United Arab Emirates focus on the state before moving in. There are no studies on the evaluation and characteristics of Indoor Air Quality in living conditions. This study aims to obtain primary data by measuring the concentration of indoor hazardous chemical substances in apartment housings with different area characteristics and to identify the external and internal pollutants that affect them. As a methodology, a comparative analysis was conducted between residential (Business Bay) and industrial areas (Ras Al Khor) to investigate the indoor air pollutants level with the comparison of the outdoor environment, elapsed time after construction, finished materials, temperature, relative humidity, renovation, purchase of furniture and electric appliances, built-in closets, and air cleaning methods. The result showed that Benzene (C6H6), Toluene (C7H8), Ethylbenzene (C8H10), Xylene (C8H10), and Styrene (C8H8) were at a stable level. However, in the case of formaldehyde (HCHO), points exceeding or close to the WHO IAQ standard were found, suggesting that long-term attention is required. The differences between residential and industrial areas were marginal in terms of the size of the house, temperature and humidity, and the building materials. It was proven that the emission of indoor air pollutants from building materials lessened under 18 months after construction.

Correlating Temperature, Airtightness, and Pollutant Concentrations: Insights into Indoor Air Quality in Ajman Apartment Buildings

“…The primary causes of sick house syndrome are Formaldehyde (HCHO) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) (Jung and El Samanoudy, 2023). These indoor air pollutants are predominantly produced in newly constructed or renovated buildings and are emitted from various sources such as adhesives, polishes, paints, and tiles (Jung, Alqassimi and El Samanoudy, 2022). Even in small quantities, they can significantly impact human health (Arar, Jung and Al Qassimi, 2022).…”

Assessing the impact of ventilation systems on indoor air quality: a mock-up experiment in Dubai

“…Dubai has also adopted green building standards like the "Al Safat Green Building Rating System" and the "Dubai Green Building Regulations and Specifications." These prioritize sustainable construction and energy efficiency (Dubai Municipality, 2023a), specifically focusing on IAQ factors such as proper ventilation, utilization of low-emission materials, and the correct setup of air filtration systems Jung et al, 2022d).…”

Evaluating the Contamination by Indoor Dust in Dubai

“…This article presents the analysis of indoor settled dust in Dubai, UAE, which holds significant importance since Dubai's rapid urban development and construction activities are closely linked to indoor dust accumulation. Although studies on dust transportation and outdoor pollution (particularly with heavy metals) in different emirates from the UAE have been carried out [43][44][45][46][47], indoor pollution was less analyzed [28,[48][49][50], with the emphasis on gaseous pollutants. Therefore, in this study, the composition of indoor settled dust from 20 important locations across Dubai is investigated using a complex approach involving a multivariate statistical analysis combined with different indices, two newly proposed here.…”