Indoor air quality in a non-air-conditioned public transport vehicle in Cuiabá – MT

Abstract

The study of indoor air quality has intensified in recent decades in the face of concern about human exposure to physical, chemical or biological agents present in environments, in addition to the possible deleterious effects on the health of its occupants. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the air quality inside the bus, not air conditioned, of public transport in Cuiabá, capital of the state of Mato Grosso. To this end, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations were monitored at three predefined points in the morning, afternoon and night on three consecutive working days in August (dry) 2018 and February (rainy) 2019 The results were compared to the reference values described in ANVISA Resolution No. 09/2003. In the results, from a total of 18 (eighteen) collections, the standardized maximum limit of 1000 ppm for CO2 concentrations was exceeded once and recorded in P1 (1082 ppm) in the morning of the dry period, however, in three other collections high concentrations were identified, being in P2 (989 ppm) night time dry period, the other records were in the rainy season, P3 (906 ppm) afternoon time and P2 (950 ppm) in the night time. It is possible to infer that the CO2 concentrations, despite being in line with the limit standardized by RE/ANVISA No. 09/2003, in three samplings, values higher than 900 ppm were recorded, not ruling out evidence of the inefficiency of the ventilation system in relation to the dilution of the concentrations of pollutants inside the vehicle.