EGU25-13038, updated on 15 Mar 2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13038
EGU General Assembly 2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comparative Analysis of Indoor Air Quality and Health Risk Assessment in Academic Workspaces in India and Australia
Sarup Das1, Gopika Indu2, Shiva Nagendra SM1, and Sotiris Vardoulakis2
Sarup Das et al.
  • 1Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India (ce20d036@smail.iitm.ac.in)
  • 2HEAL Global Research Centre, University of Canberra, Canberra ACT, Australia (Sotiris.Vardoulakis@canberra.edu.au)

Indoor air quality (IAQ) in workplaces significantly impacts occupational health and productivity, necessitating comparative evaluations across diverse environments. This study investigates particulate matter (PM) concentrations in indoor academic workspaces in Chennai, India, and Canberra, Australia, using the GRIMM 11D aerosol spectrometer. A 12-hour monitoring campaign was done in IIT Madras, India, and ANU, Australia for 3 days during the post-winter (Spring) season. It measured the PM1, PM2.5, PM4, and PM10 levels in the indoor workspaces offering insights into PM concentrations.

The average PM concentrations in Chennai were significantly higher than in Canberra. Indian workplaces recorded PM1, PM2.5, PM4, and PM10 levels of 4.03±1.09, 8.28±2.15, 12.36±4.26, and 15.83±6.43 (µg/m³), respectively. Corresponding Australian values were notably lower, at 1.53±0.47, 2.82±1.02, 3.52±1.69, and 4.14±2.72 (µg/m³), respectively. Spikes in PM10 levels in both regions suggest occasional localized pollution events or episodic pollutant intrusions, influencing PM concentrations. Additionally, the fine PM fractions (PM1 and PM2.5) were more prominent in Canberra, indicating potential variations in pollutant sources and infiltration rates.

Health risk assessments were performed by simulating lung deposition dosages for males and females using the ‘Symmetric Lung’ configuration within the Multiple Path Dosimetry Model (MPPD). The model revealed stark contrasts in PM lung deposition doses between the two regions, with Indian workplaces presenting significantly higher health risks. In Chennai, male dosages for PM1, PM2.5, PM4, and PM10 were 4.23, 22.16, 38.98, and 56.41 µg, respectively, while females experienced slightly lower dosages of 2.79, 12.99, 23.33, and 34.70 µg. In Canberra, the respective values for males were 1.61, 5.80, 9.14, and 12.33 µg, and for females, 1.05, 3.40, 5.41, and 7.46 µg. These findings highlight a significantly higher health risk for workers in Chennai, with females in both locations receiving lower doses due to smaller lung capacities and breathing rates.

This pilot study brings out substantial regional differences in IAQ, shaped by environmental factors, building ventilation standards, and external pollutant sources and infiltration rates. Elevated PM concentrations in Chennai signal a pressing need for interventions to enhance workplace air quality, such as improved filtration and ventilation systems and awareness campaigns. Meanwhile, the finer PM fraction in Canberra warrants attention due to its deeper penetration into the respiratory tract and long-term health implications.

Further research should address long-term exposure risks, seasonal variability, and effective mitigation strategies to improve IAQ and safeguard academic workforce health in diverse geographical settings.

How to cite: Das, S., Indu, G., Nagendra SM, S., and Vardoulakis, S.: Comparative Analysis of Indoor Air Quality and Health Risk Assessment in Academic Workspaces in India and Australia, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13038, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13038, 2025.