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Study of human exposure and dose in hospital areas

Santa Vasiliki

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Summary

In recent decades, air pollution has become increasingly noticeable. The term atmospheric pollution is used to describe the presence of various natural and chemical factors in the atmosphere, which are harmful of both the environment and human health, as well as all living organisms. These factors are generally referred to as pollutants, and they alter the natural characteristics of the atmosphere, with negative consequences for global public health. It is considered responsible for various respiratory and other health problems, as well as a reduction in life expectancy and premature deaths. One such pollutant is particulate matter, which, apart from its environmental impact, also has significant effects on the respiratory system and poses a danger to public health due to its ability to penetrate the human body and deposit in various parts of the human system.The purpose of this dissertation is to determine particulate pollution in three different hospital areas (Nursing Service Office, Pathology Department, and Emergency Cardiology Department). The average concentration in the Nursing Service Office was calculated to be 30.62 μg/m3 with a standard deviation of ±12.45 μg/m3, in the Pathology Department 64.60 μg/m3 with a standard deviation of ±54.06 μg/m3, and in the Emergency Cardiology Department 24.43 μg/m3 with a standard deviation of ±21.44 μg/m3. In the hospital's outdoor area, it was calculated to be 31.50 μg/m3 with a standard deviation of ±9.08 μg/m3. Using the ExDoM2 model, the deposited dose for an adult woman in the Nursing Service Office during her working hours, for an adult man in the Pathology Department when it was in operation, for an adult man in the Pathology Department when it was not in operation, and in the Emergency Cardiology Department when it was in operation were calculated.Finally, with the help of the SPSS program, a statistical analysis of the data was conducted to compare the concentrations of particulate matter in the various areas, studying three hypotheses. Specifically, the hypotheses concerned the comparison of particulate matter concentrations during the hospital's on-call hours compared to non-on-call hours, the comparison of concentrations for the three indoor and outdoor areas where measurements were taken, as well as the comparison of concentrations during working hours of the office compared to the time when the office is closed. The results of the program showed that the highest concentration of particulate matter (compared to other areas) was found in the Pathology Department. This is attributed to the 24 hours stay of patients in the hospital, frequent cleaning and ventilation of the space, heating systems, as well as visits from relatives, doctors, and nursing staff to the area.

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