Monitoring PM[sub.2.5] at a Large Shopping Mall: A Case Study in Macao

Employees work long hours in an environment where the ambient air quality is poor, directly affecting their work efficiency. The concentration of particulate matters (PM) produced by the interior renovation of shopping malls has not received particular attention in Macao. Therefore, this study will investigate the indoor air quality (IAQ), in particular of PM[sub.2.5], in large-scale shopping mall renovation projects. This study collected on-site PM data with low-cost portable monitoring equipment placed temporarily at specific locations to examine whether the current control measures are appropriate and propose some improvements. Prior to this study, there were no measures being implemented, and on-site monitoring to assess the levels of PM[sub.2.5] concentrations was non-existent. The results show the highest level of PM[sub.2.5] recorded in this study was 559.00 μg/m[sup.3]. Moreover, this study may provide a reference for decision-makers, management, construction teams, design consultant teams, and renovation teams of large-scale projects. In addition, the monitoring of IAQ can ensure a comfortable environment for employees and customers. This study concluded that the levels of PM[sub.2.5] concentration have no correlation with the number of on-site workers, but rather were largely influenced by the processes being performed on-site.