Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 13(3), pp. 529 - 541
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2025.130301
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Assessment of Indoor Air Quality and Perceived Health Risks: A Case Study of Student's Hostels in Southwestern Nigeria

Emmanuel C. Ibrahim ^1,*, Iyinami J. Afen ¹, Olugbenga Ayeni ², Ignatius O. Omuh ¹, Rapheal A. Ojelabi ^1
1 Department of Building, Covenant University, Ota Ogun State, Nigeria
² Department of Building, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Exposure to indoor air pollution for a long time can negatively affect the health and well-being of university hostel users. This study assessed the concentrations of indoor air pollutants and perceived health risks in five (5) university hostels in southwestern Nigeria. The study used a self-assessment and field measurement approach to examine the health risks associated with Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) among university students. The concentrations of indoor air contaminants (CO₂, TVOC, CH₂O, PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10) were measured using an IAQ monitoring device. A quantitative research design was used, with 103 (n=103) copies of the questionnaire used for analysis after retrieval from the 121 that were distributed to the student occupants. Findings from objective measurement revealed the mean temperature value ranged from 28.78℃ to 31.22℃ and the mean relative humidity values ranged from 88.00% to 91.66% across the hostels for the ground and upper floors respectively. For IAQ contaminants, the study revealed the highest mean concentration for CO₂, TVOC, CH₂O, PM 1.0, PM2.5, and PM10 to be 483.00 ppm, 99.33 μg/m³, 0.06 μg/m³, 25.11 μg/m³, 41.44 μg/m³ and 53.44 μg/m³ respectively. Findings from ANOVA revealed that there was a significant difference (P>0.05) in the mean concentration values of IAQ parameters between the hostel and floor levels. However, the findings from the health risk assessment revealed that during occupancy, the students reported major respiratory symptoms such as sore or dry throat, nasal congestion, and sneezing attacks. Also, general health symptoms include fatigue, unusual thirst, and headaches among others. The study concludes that the hostels' acceptability with the IAQ is average based on the subjective IAQ assessment. Based on the objective assessment, the mean concentrations of TVOC and CH₂O were found to be within an excellent class for acceptable IAQ across all the hostels except for particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) which are found to have exceeded the NESREA standard (PM2.5<2.5; PM10<20) for an excellent IAQ class across all the hostels. Therefore, the study recommended adequate particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) monitoring within the hostels, and the development and implementation of indoor air quality health risk mitigation strategies by the university authorities.

KEYWORDS
Indoor Air Quality, Air Pollution, Hostel, Built Environment

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Emmanuel C. Ibrahim , Iyinami J. Afen , Olugbenga Ayeni , Ignatius O. Omuh , Rapheal A. Ojelabi , "Assessment of Indoor Air Quality and Perceived Health Risks: A Case Study of Student's Hostels in Southwestern Nigeria," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 529 - 541, 2025. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2025.130301.

(b). APA Format:
Emmanuel C. Ibrahim , Iyinami J. Afen , Olugbenga Ayeni , Ignatius O. Omuh , Rapheal A. Ojelabi (2025). Assessment of Indoor Air Quality and Perceived Health Risks: A Case Study of Student's Hostels in Southwestern Nigeria. Universal Journal of Public Health, 13(3), 529 - 541. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2025.130301.