Indoor air quality in schools, offices, and medical facilities draws attention from experts, researchers, and regulatory bodies from all over the world due to higher concentrations of pollutants. People spend more time indoors, which means a greater chance of exposure to these contaminants.
While educational facilities like kindergartens and classrooms have been studied due to high occupancy and pollutant concentrations, university laboratories and research facilities have been understudied. Such indoor environments are sensitive, with higher concentrations of specific pollutants due to their experimental nature and increased occupancy. Lab workers, including teachers, researchers, and technicians, are frequently exposed to such pollutants, which may have negative effects on their health.
Laboratory air quality management is one of the most important yet overlooked issues to date. Therefore, this blog post sheds light on the indoor air quality of research and science labs. We will also discuss ways to improve air quality in these environments.
Why University Scientific Labs Have Poor Indoor Air Quality
Most indoor air quality standards are written for classrooms and offices, with research labs rarely considered. However, let’s get a reality check: in most research environments, contaminant levels are relatively higher. A chemistry lab emits volatile organic compounds from cleaning agents, solvents, and chemicals. Similarly, a biology lab releases airborne bacteria, particulate matter, and fungal spores from cultures and specimens.
Most indoor air quality guidance is formulated with offices and classrooms in mind. Research labs challenge nearly every assumption those guidelines rely on. A computer lab may not seem harmful, but it can also elevate carbon dioxide levels during periods of high occupancy, which negatively affects cognition and performance.
A research study investigated eleven naturally ventilated university training labs from the biology, ecology, computer, and chemistry disciplines. The research discovered that natural ventilation is not sufficient to achieve acceptable indoor air quality levels. Additionally, elevated CO₂ levels were found during periods of higher student occupancy, and VOC concentrations also exceeded established limits.
The infrastructure is also a contributing factor, as these structures are often old and not designed for effective contaminant removal and ventilation.
Practical Strategies for Improving Indoor Air Quality in Labs
Upgrade Ventilation Systems:
One of the most powerful strategies is to upgrade ventilation. The majority of university buildings are old and have standard HVAC systems that are inadequate for laboratory and research environments. A proper lab facility requires an adequate exhaust system to prevent contaminated air from getting into corridors and nearby spaces.
University management should conduct air exchange per hour measurements in all spaces. Chemistry and biology research laboratories should have relatively higher air exchanges every hour than general classroom spaces.
Install Adequate Air Filtration Systems:
Management should choose the most suitable type of air filtration, which should depend on contaminant type. Activated carbon filters are highly effective at capturing volatile organic compounds, organic compounds and bad odours. For biological labs, air filtration systems with HEPA filters are highly effective at capturing airborne pollutants and fine particles.
For indoor spaces with multiple contaminant types, installing an air purification system with a combination of filters, such as HEPA and activated carbon, is the most effective approach. Euromate Pure Air has a range of air purification systems with high-efficiency filters. Get in touch with our team to discuss the most suitable type for you.
Install Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV):
LEV is an effective strategy to capture contaminants from a known source. It prevents pollutants from dispersing into the whole space, making it a more effective solution for contaminant dilution than natural ventilation. Installing a fume hood in a chemistry lab is highly essential because it works as a safety device, protecting researchers from inhaling dangerous chemical fumes and vapours.
Monitor Air Quality:
Universities often overlook the importance of continuous air quality monitoring. Real-time monitoring of carbon dioxide levels, volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and humidity is crucial, as it allows management to identify issues at early stages.
Final Thoughts
Improving indoor air quality in research facilities and laboratories is essential to protect the health of researchers, technicians, students and teachers. However, it is not a one-time project – it should be an ongoing investment. Universities should invest in air purification systems for everything that matters – costs, returns, health and safety.
Euromate Pure Air has commercial-grade, high-efficiency filtration systems to capture airborne pollutants, fumes, vapours and VOCs. Enquire about our product range today.
