Wong, Chiang Ann
(2018)
Indoor Air Quality And Potential
Health Risks In The Food Refinery In
The Hot-Humid Tropics.
Masters thesis, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Abstract
Poor indoor air quality will lead to health problems thus reducing the
productivity of a company. The most common health problem reported in the food
industry is respiratory diseases which can be caused by poor air quality. This study
aims to ascertain the indoor air quality and elemental concentrations of particulate
matter in a food refinery. Potential risks were evaluated to recommend appropriate
risk minimisation strategies. An indoor air quality monitoring was carried out at eight
sampling locations within the premises of a food refinery. Nine parameters including
physical, chemical, biological parameters and the ventilation indicator were
monitored using the methods of real time monitoring, gravimetric and plate count.
The results were evaluated against standards. Particulate matter 10 micron (PM10)
was analysed for elemental concentrations using ICP-OES and health risks were
determined. Air temperature, air velocity, carbon dioxide (CO2) and PM10 at seven
sampling locations exceeded the standards due to influence of outdoor air
temperature, mechanical fan and natural wind, insufficient ventilation rate,
air-conditioner settings, machinery emissions and food dust emissions. For elemental
concentrations in particulate matter, Ca, Mg, Ni, Zn and Se were detected. The
sources of detected elements could be from the food and human activities including
traffic and industrial pollution. For the parameters that exceeded the standard, health
impacts might stem from the exposure to high air temperature and high concentration
of particulate matter. For potential health risk, Ni was found to pose both
non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk to the building occupants. Different risk minimisation strategies were addressed which covered the responsibility of
management of company and workers.
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