- D3.498 - Indoor environmental quality in university settings: identifying opportunities for promoting health, comfort, and academic performance among medical students

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) plays a critical role in occupants’ health, well-being, comfort, and cognitive performance. Exposure to inadequate IEQ levels is a particular concern in educational buildings, especially because of the substantial amount of time students spend daily learning and studying in these environments. However, evidence from Portuguese university settings is limited.

This study assessed IEQ at 10 study points across the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (lecture rooms (LRs), library and study rooms (SRs)). The monitoring campaign covered carbon monoxide and dioxide, temperature, relative humidity, particulate matter (PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and ultrafine particles (UFP)), ozone (O₃), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), illumination and noise levels complemented by a building survey. Students completed questionnaires on self-reported IEQ perception, well-being, health, and academic performance. Data were analyzed to identify statistically significant associations of environmental data with participant outcomes. 

Participants were 74% females and 93% were born between 2000-2005. CO₂, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, VOCs, and noise levels increased markedly during learning hours, with study rooms showing the highest pollutant concentrations, with some exceedances of limit value, mainly for CO₂ and illuminance. Levels of satisfaction with IEQ, IAQ, temperature and lighting were overall positive, with the less positive being obtained for noise. Diagnosed allergic rhinitis was positively associated with levels of PM_2.5 (OR=1.573) and UFP (OR=1.052) and inversely associated with PM₁₀ (OR=0.756), O₃ and RH (OR=0.929). UFP counts were significantly (p<0.05) and positively associated with other skin problems and environmental allergies. Interestingly, UFP levels were also significantly associated (p<0.05) with the absence of reported health conditions. Sneezing related to the time spent at the university had a significant positive association with PM_2.5 (OR=5.374 with p<0.05) and significant inverse association with PM₁₀ (OR=0.257 with p<0.05).

Overall, the results suggest that IEQ can fluctuate across sampling points in university facilities and that the levels of some parameters are significantly associated with outcomes in students. These findings highlight the need for targeted IEQ management to protect health, well-being, and comfort.