AN IAQ STUDY IN A MALL FOCUSING ON THE SPREAD OF CONTAMINANTS FROM NAIL SALONS

Abstract

The nail products used inside nail salons may contain high levels of toxic chemicals which can result in adverse health effects in persons exposed to it. If the contaminated air is not well controlled, it can spread to neighbouring spaces and put more persons at adverse health risks. Thus, this study focuses on the spread of contaminants from nail salons inside a shopping mall to study the impact nail salons can have on the indoor air quality (IAQ). A field study was conducted in Bugis Street, an air-conditioned shopping mall with multiple nail salons. Objective data collection was done through spot measurements and the parameters measured are air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, carbon dioxide, TVOCs, formaldehyde and PM2.5. Multiple sampling points were established at the nail salons and at some distance away from the salons to evaluate the spread of contaminants. The relationship between an elevated level of contaminants and high salon activity level was also analysed. In addition, the data collected were compared with the SS554:2016 to find out if the standards are met. The results showed that the thermal comfort parameters were consistent near the salon and further from the salon while the chemical parameters excluding PM2.5 had higher levels of contaminants near the salon. Besides, a higher level of contaminants for the chemical parameters was observed during higher salon activity levels. The results for three out of seven parameters met the criteria of SS554:2016. Due to the unsatisfactory results, recommendations to improve the IAQ within the mall were proposed.