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Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 6, No. 6, 337-343 (1997)
DOI: 10.1177/1420326X9700600604

Characterisation of Indoor Air Quality in Large Urban Centres in Central America

M. del Rosario Alfaro

Laboratorio de Estudios en Contaminantes del Aire, Escuela de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica

Levels of gas and particle-phase substances present in the indoor air at non- industrial sites in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama; including offices, hospitals and restaurants, were measured dur ing 1993 and 1994. Samples collected at 40 sites were analysed for respirable suspended particles (RSP, d50 <3.5 µm), ultraviolet RSP (UV-RSP) as a mark er for environmental tobacco smoke, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nicotine. Levels of RSP were very high at several sites, varying within the ranges of 34-421 µg/m 3 in restaurants, 21-242 µg/m3 in hospitals and 13- 196 µg/m3 in offices. Carbon monoxide levels were also high at several sites with peak concentrations reaching 29, 20, and 19 ppm, respectively, in an office, a hospital and a restaurant. Infiltration and penetration of outdoor pol lutants into the indoor environment occurred at all sites studied.

Key Words: Central America • Respirable suspended particles • Nicotine • Carbon monoxide • Carbon dioxide


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