Measurement of PM10 and PM2.5 mass concentrations in service laboratories
Abstract
Indoor particulate matter (PM) poses the same respiratory health threats as outdoor PM. Indoor PM were collected from two service laboratories in Metro Manila for 7 hours per sampling day over a period of six weeks. Hourly recordings for temperature and relative humidity were also performed. The mass concentrations of PM were quantified by gravimetric analysis. The study found that the maximum PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations calculated for the naturally ventilated Lab X were 202.68 μg/m3 and 98.81 μg/m3, respectively. The maximum values obtained from the air-conditioned Lab Y for PM10 and PM2.5 were 219.79 μg/m3 and 98.66 μg/m3, respectively. The study also recognized that factors temperature and relative humidity affects PM concentration levels.