Nitrogen Dioxide in Indoor Ice Skating Facilities: An International Survey

• Published in: Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association (1995) 1997-10, Vol.47 (10), p.1095-1102
• Main Authors: Brauer, Michael, Lee, Kiyoung, Spengler, John D., Salonen, Raimo O., Pennanen, Arto, Braathen, Ole Anders, Miskovic, Eva Mihalikova and Peter, Nozaki, Atsuo, Tsuzuki, Toshifumi, Rui-Jin, Song, Qing-Xiang, Yang Xu and Zeng, Drahonovska, Hana, Kjaergaard, Søren
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Exact sciences and technology; Indoor pollution and occupational exposure; Pollution
• ISSN: 1096-2247; 2162-2906
• DOI: 10.1080/10473289.1997.10464399

An international survey of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) levels inside indoor ice skating facilities was conducted. One-week average NO 2 concentrations were measured inside and outside of 332 ice rinks located in nine countries. Each rink manager also completed a questionnaire describing the building, the resurfacing machines, and their use patterns. The (arithmetic) mean NO 2 level for all rinks in the study was 228 ppb, with a range of 1-2,680 ppb, based on a sample collected at breathing height and adjacent to the ice surface. The mean of the second indoor sample (collected at a spectator's area) was 221 ppb, with a range of 1-3,175 ppb. The ratio of the indoor to outdoor NO 2 concentrations was above 1 for 95% of the rinks sampled, indicating the presence of an indoor NO 2 source (mean indoor:outdoor ratio = 20). Estimates of short-term NO 2 concentrations indicated that as many as 40% of the sampled rinks would have exceeded the World Health Organization 1-hour guideline value of 213 ppb NO 2 for indoor air. Statistically significant associations were observed between NO 2 levels and the type of fuel used to power the resurfacer, the absence of a catalytic converter on a resurfacer, and the use of an ice edger. There were also indications that decreased use of mechanical ventilation, increased number of resurfacing operations per day, and smaller rink volumes were associated with increased NO 2 levels. In rinks where the main resurfacer was powered by propane, the NO 2 concentrations were higher than in those with gasoline-powered resurfacers, while the latter had NO 2 concentrations higher than in those using diesel. Rinks where the main resurfacer was electric had the lowest indoor NO 2 concentrations, similar to the levels measured outdoor