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Indoor air quality assessment in the air traffic control tower of the Athens Airport, Greece

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Abstract

In this study, an assessment of indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort in the Athens Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) offices of Hellinicon building complex, which is mechanically ventilated, is presented. Measurements of PM10, PM2.5, TVOCs and CO2 concentrations were performed during three experimental cycles, while the Thom Discomfort Index was calculated to describe the employees’ feeling of discomfort. The aim of the first cycle was to identify the IAQ status, the second to investigate the effectiveness of certain measures taken, and the third to continuously monitor and control IAQ. During the first two cycles, daily spot measurements of TVOCs and CO2 were performed at various indoor locations and at the respective outdoor air intake positions, in addition with mean 24-h spot measurements of indoor PM10 and PM2.5. Results revealed that pollution levels vary according to the occupancy and the kind of activity. Following that, an automated system (IMAS) was designed and employed to continuously monitor indoor and outdoor CO2, TVOCs, temperature and relative humidity. The ultimate scope was to control the IAQ and offer acceptable comfort conditions to the employees, whose work is of special nature and extremely demanding. Intervention scenarios were formulated and applied to the system to improve indoor conditions, when and where necessary. Regarding the third cycle, 1-year measurements collected from the system to examine its effectiveness. While it was shown that discomfort may be attributed to co-existence of unsatisfactory thermal comfort conditions and IAQ, usually the sole predominant factor of discomfort feeling is thermal comfort.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Physics and Meteorology, Faculty of Physics, University of Athens, University Campus–Zografou, Building Physics 5, 157 84, Athens, Greece

    Costas G. Helmis, Helena A. Flocas, Ourania I. Stathopoulou, George Sgouros & Maria Hatzaki

  2. Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, P. Penteli, 152 36, Athens, Greece

    Vasiliki D. Assimakopoulos

Authors
  1. Costas G. Helmis
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  2. Vasiliki D. Assimakopoulos
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  3. Helena A. Flocas
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  4. Ourania I. Stathopoulou
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  5. George Sgouros
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  6. Maria Hatzaki
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Correspondence to Costas G. Helmis.

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Helmis, C.G., Assimakopoulos, V.D., Flocas, H.A. et al. Indoor air quality assessment in the air traffic control tower of the Athens Airport, Greece. Environ Monit Assess 148, 47–60 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-0138-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-0138-9

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