A preliminary study of indoor air quality conditions in Dubai public elementary schools

It is important for schools to create and maintain good and healthy indoor environment in order to accomplish their core mission of educating and improving their students academic achievements. This becomes very important if the occupants are children because they are known to be very vulnerable. This study presents the findings of preliminary investigation into the indoor air quality (IAQ) conditions of a classroom in four public elementary schools across Dubai using walkthrough investigation and objective measurement methods. Physical and chemical parameters were measured in selected classrooms for 6-7 h during school period. Majority of the environmental parameters exceed recommended threshold limits provided by cognizance authorities. This study is important because it shows the need for monitoring (a practice which is non-existing) IAQ conditions seriously in UAE elementary schools. Understanding of IAQ conditions is a step forward towards providing indoor environmentally responsible solutions that could be used to improve school children health and comfort, performance and increase their attendance rates.