Assessing the impact of high and low occupancy on air quality inside a library

The environmental quality within libraries plays a crucial role in preserving the integrity of the library collections and ensuring a comfortable and conducive environment for patrons. This research article presents the findings of a comprehensive monitoring campaign conducted inside the main library of IIT Kanpur, India, to assess the acceptability of indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters during regular and exam days. During regular and exam days, we monitored different IAQ parameters on the ground floor (GF) and the main library's top floor (TF). Exam days witnessed high occupancy inside the library. In contrast, the number of people visiting the library was low on regular days. The study focused on comfort parameters (RH, Temperature, and CO2), VOCs (BTEX), o-VOCs, and air pollutants, including CO, SO2, NOx, and particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5). The IAQ parameters, CO, SO2, and NO2, conform for Class A (ISHRAE guidelines), CO2 to Class B (acceptable; regular days), and Class C on TF during exams (marginally acceptable). PM2.5, benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde exceeded the recommended ISHRAE guidelines. PM and CO2 levels increased with an increase in occupancy. They were higher during the exam period, highlighting that occupancy level and occupants' activities were the major factors contributing to the fluctuation of these parameters. VOC levels on the two floors varied. Benzene was the most common; levels on TF were dominated by toluene and xylene. VOCs were generally higher on regular days than on exam days, suggesting that some VOCs' air levels are unaffected by the presence of humans and their activities. Formaldehyde levels on GF were low during regular and high during exam days, respectively. PM and CO2 levels were high on GF during both occupancy periods. Results from the Man Whitney U test showed significant differences (p<0.05) in the distributions of most pollutants on TF and GF during exams and regular days. The study concludes that employing continuous monitoring approaches is critical to understanding the cumulative effects of environmental conditions on library users and staff members. This article summarises the survey response and presents Suggestions to mitigate the potential health risks from air pollution inside crowded indoor microenvironments like libraries. Analysis of the questionnaire survey responses received from library occupants on exam days brings forth the need for establishing compound-specific perception thresholds for VOCs. Clean air has a profound positive effect on numerous sustainable development goals (SDGs). It indirectly advances SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Our results add to the ongoing research to promote healthy and productive learning environments, and the information will be useful for institute authorities, and public health experts. It will be of special interest to Environmental Designers—those who address the interaction between buildings and their environment to promote health and sustainability.