On-Site Monitoring Indoor Air Quality in Schools: A Real-World Investigation to Engage High School Science Students

This article describes the on-site monitoring of indoor air quality (IAQ) in school classrooms and laboratories. The students were personally involved in the monitoring experience, by using low-cost IAQ sensors, and then in evaluation and interpretation of the measured values. The joint school-university project, which provides lessons, equipment, and support to high school classes, is a model of how to engage students in real-world science research and learning. The obtained results pointed out two alerts: unacceptable high levels of fine particle matter (PM2.5) - mainly entered into indoor environments from highly polluted outdoor air - and uncomfortably high CO2 levels - due to classroom crowding and inadequate ventilation.