EVALUATION OF AIR POLLUTANTS CONCENTRATION IN THE INDOOR SPACES OF PRINTING PRESSES IN ZARIA METROPOLIS

Purpose: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is becoming an increasingly important building design consideration due to the growth in occupants’ health and comfort problems attributed to indoor air pollution (IAP). This study evaluated the concentration of indoor air pollutants in the built spaces of printing presses within the Zaria metropolis with the view to improving the IAQ of this built environment. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted the quantitative research method. Twenty two (22) printing presses were studied during active periods of printing to identify air pollutants. Concentration levels were measured and compared against the National Environmental Standard and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA) standard for excellent IAQ. Handheld Air quality meter, Carbon monoxide meter, and Ozone concentration meter were used to measure the mean concentration levels of nine (9) IAQ indicators; Temperature, Relative humidity, Carbon monoxide (CO), Carbon dioxide (CO2), Total volatile organic compound (TVOC), Formaldehyde (HCHO), Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), and Ozone (O3). Data collected in this study were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: The concentration of the air pollutants in the printing presses were in the range: Temperature (25-67-33.67oC), RH (56.33-85.00%), CO (0.00-31.00ppm), CO2 (533.67 1425.33ppm), TVOCs (0.113-9.999mg/m3), HCHO (0.015-0.078mg/m3), PM2.5 (21.33 426µg/m3), PM10, (28.00-568µg/m3), and O3 (0.00-0.05ppm). The mean concentration of temperature, RH, TVOC, HCHO, PM2.5, and PM10 exceeded the acceptable threshold of the NESREA standard in about 60% of the assessed presses. Research limitations/Implications: Based on the air pollutant concentration levels recorded in this study, printing press operators and users in the Zaria metropolis are at risk of developing some health-related problems. Practical implications: Regular IAQ assessment by press owners, inspection by regulatory bodies, and installation of IAQ monitoring or capture systems are recommended to achieve good IAQ levels as well as improve occupants’ wellbeing in the assessed printing presses. Originality/value – The result of the study revealed the need to control the concentration of air pollutants in the printing presses in the Zaria metropolis as the measured concentration of air pollutants poses a major health threat to users of the facilities.