Evaluation of air quality inside a painting factory through the use of gas sensors

• Mehdi Dhia University of Valencia
• Khalil Zaghdoudi University of Valencia,
• Angel Morales Rubio University of Valencia,
• Miguel De la Guardia University of Valencia

Keywords: Painting factory, Indoor air, Sensors, Working space, Breath analysis

Abstract

The quality of air inside a painting factory was evaluated from the determination of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), particulated materials (PM) with sizes 0.5, 2.5 and 5 μm, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentrations. Measurements were made by using gas sensors in six hot points of a factory in the area of Valencia (Spain): Air evacuation system (Aes), Storage warehouse (Swh), Research and Development laboratory (R&D), Quality control zone (Qzn), Ground (Gpd) and Upper (Upd) floor of the production area were considerated as sampling points. Maximum concentration levels of CO2 were found in Gpd and it was around 1100 ppm and the maximum of CO concentration was 0.5 ppm near the Aes. The most contaminated area was the R&D; VOCs achieved high value of 184 mg/m3 and concentration of SO2 was 2.65 mg/m3. PM was higher in Qzn and also in R&D. It varied around 30 thousand for the smallest size and 3 thousand for the biggest one. 0.128 mg/m3 was the highest concentration of the nitrogen dioxide and it was detected in the Qzn. Additionally the breath of the experimenter was used as a test of the passive exposure of the people working in the factory. The relationship between the studied parameter in breath, after/before making measurements inside the factory were 3252/436 (ppm), 1 million / 0.6 million (Particles), 100 thousand / 10 thousand (particles) , 5 thousand / 2 thousand (particles), 2.67/1.72 (mg/m3) , 0.04/0.1 (mg/m3) for CO2 , PM 0.5 , PM 2.5, PM 5 , VOC and NO2 respectively.

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