Monitoring of Indoor Ultrafine Particulate Matter at the Sites of the Czech Armed Forces

Abstract

Ultrafine particles and nanoparticles in the air are evaluated as a risk factor for the development of respiratory and other healthsymptoms due to their inhalation from the ambient air. The Czech Army professionals are expected to have frequent presence in apolluted environment and regular exposure to air with increased concentration of airborne pollutants. The report evaluates the presenceof ultra-fine particles (in the range of about 7.6–299.6 nm) in rooms often used by soldiers during their working hours whenthey are not deployed. The purpose is to assess whether the presence of troops in these workplaces is safe and does not pose a riskof adverse health effects in itself. Testing took place in three military rooms (classroom 1, classroom 2 and exercise flight simulatorroom). Seven samples of air were analysed in time by the scanning mobility particle sizer in succession. Mean particle concentrationswere found at 1.79×104, 7.53×103 and 8.39×103 N·cm-3 for the classroom 1, classroom 2 and exercise flight simulator room.Conclusions of the research have shown that particle concentrations in the places of the Czech Army can reach values that borderthe immission limits stated by the World Health Organisation.