Distribution of 1000 free indoor air quality measurement kits to schools : kits as an alternative method proposed by the French regulation

Abstract : Since 2015, the regulation on indoor air quality monitoring in schools in France has been modified to provide an alternative method to systematic measurements by laboratory by using kits sold on the market. Local authorities and school directors are allowed to use kits by themselves. Before that, they must identify the sources of the suspected pollutants using a national guide (INERIS, 2016a). In this framework, the MTES decided to distribute 1000 free air quality measurement kits to schools. Those are designed to measure two chemical agents: benzene and formaldehyde. It has been designed for non-professionals to carry out air sampling measurement easily according to a simple protocol and questionnaire. Over the 1000 kits distributed, only 2 results exceeded the regulatory limit values: one for each substance. Very few problems were reported concerning the use of this kit, and the repartition of results is similar to that of a previous measurement campaign carried out in 900 rooms in schools (2009-2011) but by professional laboratories thereby demonstrating its efficiency. This operation shows successfully that the alternative cheaper method proposed by the regulation allows to perform an indicative air quality measurement in schools.