Journal Issue:
EnNRJ Vol. 20 No. 5

Journal Volume

Journal Volume
EnNRJ Volume 20
(2022)

Articles

PublicationOpen Access
Estimation of Effects of Air Pollution on the Corrosion of Historical Buildings in Bangkok
(2022) Nuttacha Daengprathum; Rattapon Onchang; Kanchana Nakhapakorn; Ornprapa Robert; Aungsiri Tipayarom; Peter Johann Sturm
Historical buildings are recognized as the valuable cultural heritage of a nation. They may suffer material deterioration unavoidably because of exposure to air pollution. We used geographic information systems with dose-response functions (DRFs) to estimate the corrosion of copper and Portland limestone, and their risk of corrosion with regard to historical buildings in Bangkok, Thailand. The first step was to find a suitable spatial interpolation method considering the air pollution and meteorological measurement data for 2010-2019 from 26 monitoring stations in Bangkok and its neighborhoods. Applying multiple performance measures, the inverse distance weighting (IDW) method was found to be the most suitable. Predictions of the pollutant concentration in the spatial atmosphere showed that the concentration of all pollutants (SO2, NO2, O3, and PM10) tends to increase in 2028. Air pollution exposure time duration tends to be a key factor affecting the corrosion of material. The results of spatial corrosion estimations indicated that in 2010, the corrosion of copper and Portland limestone were at acceptable levels; however, the estimated corrosion levels for 2019 and 2028 are higher and beyond the acceptable levels. Moreover, both materials in the Rattanakosin historical area exceed their tolerable corrosion rates with considerably serious risks in 2028. The results can be further used to establish active measures to reduce the rate of corrosion of historical buildings in Bangkok.
PublicationOpen Access
Indoor Air Quality in Public Health Centers: A Case Study of Public Health Centers Located on Main and Secondary Roadsides, Bangkok
(2022) Natlada Boonphikham; Chatchawal Singhakant; Suwimon Kanchanasuta; Withida Patthanaissaranukool; Tawach Prechthai
This cross-sectional study investigated the indoor air quality (IAQ) of public health centers (PHCs) and primary health care units in Bangkok to determine the impact of the different locations and ventilation systems concerning IAQ. Three indoor air pollutants: PM2.5, CO2, and CO were measured in three areas (medical record departments, outpatient departments and examination rooms) of six PHCs located in two different locations (main and secondary roadsides). The results showed that the average levels of PM2.5, CO2, and CO in the PHCs located on main roadsides were higher than those located on secondary roadsides. Among these parameters, only CO was found to significantly differ between those two locations indicating the result of vehicles and traffic sources regarding indoor CO level. Furthermore, all parameters were compared among the sampling areas with different ventilation systems; natural ventilation and air conditioner with and without ventilation fan. The amounts of all three pollutants significantly differed in each area with different ventilation systems. The average levels of PM2.5 and CO2 were the highest in areas with air conditioner without ventilation fan, while the level of CO was the highest in areas with natural ventilation. The ventilation was proved to be a key measure to improve IAQ. PHCs should consider ventilation efficacy to improve the IAQ by using ventilation fans in rooms using air conditioners. Finally, the average levels of all parameters were found below the recommended values in related standards, indicating safe IAQ for people working and receiving services in PHCs.

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