The Indoor Environment at the University Equestrian Facility in the Autumn Semester: A Case Study

TL;DR

This study assesses the indoor environment of a university equestrian facility in autumn, finding good temperature and CO2 levels but high dust levels affecting health.

Contribution

The study provides empirical data on indoor environmental conditions in a university equestrian facility and their potential health impacts.

Findings

High dust concentrations, especially large particles, were found to affect air quality and health.

PM10 and PM2.5 levels during cleaning were significantly higher than during bedding.

Sound pressure levels remained within safe limits despite proximity to an airport.

Abstract

This article evaluates the basic parameters of the indoor environment, such as temperature and humidity, CO2 concentration, airborne dust concentration, and noise in the operating conditions of a university horse farm during the autumn semester. The measurements showed that the conditions inside the stable were favorable in terms of temperature and humidity as well as CO2 concentration during this period. However, the air quality is worsened by the high concentration of dust, especially during cleaning, which can have a bad effect not only on the stabled horses but also on the workers, students, and members of the riding club. The airborne dust was characterized by a high proportion of the largest dust particles. Analysis of the measurement results showed that there was no difference between the average concentration of PM10 dust particles during bedding with straw or a mixture of sawdust and shavings. Noise measurements showed that the average sound pressure level did not exceed the recommended limits, even though this equestrian facility is located near a commercial airport.

This article aims to show some of the factors that influence the internal environment in a horse stable under the operating conditions of a university farm during the autumn semester. The conditions inside the stable were favorable in terms of temperature and air humidity as well as CO2 concentration during this period. According to anonymous statements of 94 respondents (workers, students, and members of the equestrian club), 83% of them suffer from occasional respiratory problems, which could be contributed to by the deterioration of the indoor environment, especially dustiness. Analysis of the measured dust concentration values showed that the largest share of the dust concentration was made by large particles above 10 μm. There was no difference between the average concentration of PM10 dust particles (877 μg·m−3) during bedding with straw or a mixture of sawdust and shavings. The average concentration of PM10 particles during the cleaning of the corridor was also high (185.9 ± 105.4 μg·m−3). On the contrary, the average concentration of PM2.5 particles during the cleaning of the corridor (173.1 ± 50.3 μg·m−3) was higher than during bedding with straw (54.4 ± 34.9 μg·m−3) or a mixture of sawdust and shavings (69.2 ± 22.1 μg·m−3). The average concentration of dust during the movement of horses in the outdoor riding arena was within the recommended limit values for outdoor limits of PM10 and PM2.5. The average sound pressure level LpAi = 47.0 ± 8.7 dB fluctuated during the day, but the horses were not disturbed during rest and sleep, even though this equestrian facility is located near a commercial airport.

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