Monitoring pollutants in occupied spaces

There is increasing evidence of a causal link between airborne particles and ill health and thisstudy monitored the exposure to both airborne particles and the gas phase contaminants ofenvironmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in a nightclub.The present study followed a number of pilot studies in which the human exposure toairborne particles in a nightclub was assessed and the spatio-temporal distribution of gas phasepollutants was evaluated in restaurants and pubs. The work reported here re-examined thenightclub environment and utilized concurrent and continuous monitoring using opticalscattering samplers to measure particulates (PM10) together with multi-gas analysers.The analysis illustrated the highly episodic nature of both gaseous and particulateconcentrations in both the dance floor and in the bar area but levels were well below themaximum recommended exposure levels. Short-term exposure to high concentrations mayhowever be relevant when considering the possible toxic effects on biological systems.The results give an indication of the problems associated with achieving acceptable indoor airquality (IAQ) in a complex space and identified some of the problems inherent in the design andoperation of ventilation systems for such spaces.