Physical characterization of indoor-outdoor airborne particles in the tropics

Abstract

Urban population is frequently exposed to high air pollution concentration, where motor vehicle emissions constitute main source of fine and ultra fine particles.The objective of the research is to assess the particle concentrations at indoor and outdoor locations near major roads and investigate the migration of particles by ascertaining I/O ratios. The effect of ambient environment condition on the migration phenomenon is also investigated. Additional studies were carried out in residential apartments near major roadways to study the particle distribution at different stories. Studies show that fine particles comprise a significant proportion of the suspended particles. Findings revealed that ambient parameters like temperature, relative humidity and wind speed effects the migration of particles. In a high rise building in open street, it was observed that the concentration of particles in a building first increased with height, attains a maximum and then decreases.