Air quality evaluation of general practitioner’s office in XXX
Cecile VO NGOC and Valentine LEFRANC
Indoor air pollution is a major issue in environmental health. General practitioners spend at least one third of their time in consultation rooms, where they may be exposed to indoor air pollutants whose levels remain poorly documented.To assess indoor air quality of general practice consultation rooms and to identify factors that may influence it.A descriptive quantitative observational study was conducted between February and September 2023, as part of the XXX project funded by XXX. Sensors installed in consultation rooms continuously measured CO₂, PM2.5, and formaldehyde. For each room, ICONE confinement indices were calculated based on CO₂ levels. Indicators of central tendency and dispersion were also computed for each pollutant. Simultaneously, ventilation practices were collected through an anonymous questionnaire completed by participating physicians. A comparative analysis was performed to explore potential associations between these practices and ICONE indices.Ten sensors collected data across thirty-five consultation rooms. Forty percent of them showed at least “high” confinement (ICONE ≥ 3), and 60% of CO₂ measurements exceeded 800 ppm, which is a key value for ventilation management. Despite these high confinement levels, most formaldehyde and PM2.5 concentrations remained below established health-based thresholds. Ventilation practices varied widely among physicians, but no statistically significant association was identified between these practices and confinement levels.High ICONE values suggest substantial exposure to chemical and biological pollutants. However, measured concentrations of formaldehyde and PM2.5 were lower than those reported in studies led in homes or schools. The absence of an association between confinement and ventilation practices may reflect specific characteristics of general practice indoor environments or a lack of statistical power due to the small sample size. A larger and year-round study would be valuable to strengthen and refine these findings.General practice consultation rooms exhibit high confinement level. Promoting improved ventilation practices appears relevant to reduce exposure to indoor pollutants and limiting contamination risks within these healthcare settings.
