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September 4, 2025
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Article

Indoor/Outdoor Particulate Matter and Related Pollutants in a Sensitive Public Building in Madrid (Spain).

Publicated to: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 22 (8): - 2025-07-25 22(8), DOI: 10.3390/ijerph22081175

Authors:

Alonso-Blanco E; Gómez-Moreno FJ; Díaz-Ramiro E; Fernández J; Coz E; Yagüe C; Román-Cascón C; Gómez-Garre D; Narros A; Borge R; Artíñano B
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Affiliations

Departamento de Física de la Tierra y Astrofísica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain. - Author
Departamento de Ingeniería Química Industrial y del Medio Ambiente, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), 28006 Madrid, Spain. - Author
Department of Applied Physics, Marine and Environmental Sciences Faculty, INMAR, CEIMAR, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, 11510 Cádiz, Spain. - Author
Department of Environment, Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT), Avenida Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain. - Author
Laboratorio de Biología Vascular y Microbiota, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), IdISSC, 2nd Floor North, C/Profesor Martín Lagos, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. - Author
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Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), indoor air quality (IAQ) is becoming a serious global concern due to its significant impact on human health. However, not all relevant health parameters are currently regulated. For example, particle number concentration (PNC) and its associated carbonaceous species, such as black carbon (BC), which are classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), are not currently regulated. Compared with IAQ studies in other types of buildings, studies focusing on IAQ in hospitals or other healthcare facilities are scarce. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the impact of these outdoor pollutants, among others, on the indoor environment of a hospital under different atmospheric conditions. To identify the seasonal influence, two different periods of two consecutive seasons (summer 2020 and winter 2021) were selected for the measurements. Regulated pollutants (NO, NO2, O3, PM10, and PM2.5) and nonregulated pollutants (PM1, PNC, and equivalent BC (eBC)) in outdoor air were simultaneously measured indoor and outdoor. This study also investigated the impact of indoor activities on indoor air quality. In the absence of indoor activities, outdoor sources significantly contribute to indoor traffic-related pollutants. Indoor and outdoor (I-O) measurements showed similar behavior, but indoor concentrations were lower, with peak levels delayed by up to two hours. Seasonal variations in indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios were lower for particles than for associated gaseous pollutants. Particle infiltration depended on particle size, with it being higher the smaller the particle size. Indoor activities also significantly affected indoor pollutants. PMx (especially PM10 and PM2.5) concentrations were mainly modulated by walking-induced particle resuspension. Vertical eBC profiles indicated a relatively well-mixed environment. Ventilation through open windows rapidly altered indoor air quality. Outdoor-dominant pollutants (PNC, eBC, and NOX) had I/O ratios ≥ 1. Staying in the room with an open window had a synergistic effect, increasing the I/O ratios for all pollutants. Higher I/O ratios were associated with turbulent outdoor conditions in both unoccupied and occupied conditions. Statistically significant differences were observed between stable (TKE ≤ 1 m2 s-2) and unstable (TKE > 1 m2 s-2) conditions, except for NO2 in summer. This finding was particularly significant when the wind direction was westerly or easterly during unstable conditions. The results of this study highlight the importance of understanding the behavior of indoor particulate matter and related pollutants. These pollutants are highly variable, and knowledge about them is crucial for determining their health effects, particularly in public buildings such as hospitals, where information on IAQ is often limited. More measurement data is particularly important for further research into I-O transport mechanisms, which are essential for developing preventive measures and improving IAQ.
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Keywords

Air pollutantsAir pollution, indoorBlack carbonEnvironmental monitoringHospitalIndoor air qualityIndoor/outdoor ratioParticle sizeParticulate matterSeasonsSpainUltrafine particle number concentration

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health.

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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-26:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 19 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/95489/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

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