Create special space for smoking

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 126 views

A Picture of Physical Quality, Smoking Habits, and Indoor CO Levels and Complaints of Respiratory Tract at Medan Area University in 2019

Introduction

Air is an essential element that supports the lives of all living things. The quality of air in a room has a significant impact on human health, considering that almost 90% of human life time is spent in the room. In developing countries, it is estimated that there are around 400-500 million people affected by poor air quality. Complaints regarding the respiratory tract are often felt by employees who work in a closed environment, where air quality and indoor activity play a significant role. Some common complaints that appear include runny nose, sneezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

The Importance of Air Quality in the Room

Maintaining good air quality in the room is crucial for employee health. Factors such as temperature and humidity that are not maintained can worsen air quality and contribute to health problems, especially for those who already have smoking habits. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that poor air quality is responsible for millions of deaths worldwide each year. In addition, the WHO has also stated that indoor air pollution is a major public health concern, particularly in developing countries.

Methodology

This study aims to evaluate the physical quality of air, smoking habits, carbon monoxide (CO) levels in the room, as well as complaints of respiratory tract at Medan Area University. Research is descriptive, using the total sampling method involving 30 employees as research subjects. Demographic data collected includes age, gender, length of work, working hours, smoking habits, indoor CO levels, and complaints experienced, obtained through questionnaires and observations and are processed using distribution tables.

Results

The results showed that the six faculties at Medan Area University had air temperatures above 26 ° C, humidity of more than 60%, and ventilation area of more than 15%. The measured CO content is below 10 ppm. In addition, it was found that out of 30 employees, as many as 15 of them were active smokers, and 13 employees reported complaints of respiratory tract.

Discussion

The findings of this study highlight the importance of maintaining good air quality in the room. The results showed that the faculties at Medan Area University had air temperatures above 26 ° C, humidity of more than 60%, and ventilation area of more than 15%. However, the measured CO content was below 10 ppm, indicating that the air quality in the room was not satisfactory. The study also found that out of 30 employees, as many as 15 of them were active smokers, and 13 employees reported complaints of respiratory tract.

Conclusion

The importance of maintaining air quality in the room is very clear, especially for employee health. Factors such as temperature and humidity that are not maintained can worsen air quality and contribute to health problems, especially for those who already have smoking habits. Considering this finding, it is recommended that the university takes improved steps, such as creating special space for smoking and increasing room ventilation to ensure better air circulation. By paying attention to air quality, we not only increase work comfort, but also contribute to the long-term health of employees.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Create special space for smoking: The university should create a special space for smoking, where employees can smoke without affecting the air quality in the room.
Increase room ventilation: The university should increase room ventilation to ensure better air circulation and reduce the concentration of CO in the room.
Monitor air quality: The university should monitor air quality regularly to ensure that it meets the recommended standards.
Provide education and training: The university should provide education and training to employees on the importance of maintaining good air quality in the room and the risks associated with poor air quality.
Implement policies and regulations: The university should implement policies and regulations to ensure that employees follow the guidelines for maintaining good air quality in the room.

Limitations

This study has several limitations. Firstly, the study only involved 30 employees, which may not be representative of the entire university population. Secondly, the study only measured CO levels in the room, which may not be a comprehensive measure of air quality. Finally, the study did not control for other factors that may affect air quality, such as outdoor air pollution.

Future Research Directions

Future research should aim to investigate the relationship between air quality and employee health in more detail. This could involve conducting a larger study with a more diverse sample population, measuring a wider range of air quality parameters, and controlling for other factors that may affect air quality. Additionally, future research could explore the effectiveness of different interventions aimed at improving air quality in the room, such as increasing room ventilation or providing education and training to employees.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of maintaining good air quality in the room, especially for employee health. The findings of this study suggest that the university should take improved steps to ensure better air circulation and reduce the concentration of CO in the room. By paying attention to air quality, we not only increase work comfort, but also contribute to the long-term health of employees.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Air Quality in the Room

Q: What is the importance of maintaining good air quality in the room?

A: Maintaining good air quality in the room is crucial for employee health. Factors such as temperature and humidity that are not maintained can worsen air quality and contribute to health problems, especially for those who already have smoking habits.

Q: What are the common complaints related to respiratory tract that appear in a closed environment?

A: Some common complaints that appear include runny nose, sneezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

Q: What is the recommended standard for air quality in the room?

A: The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that the air quality in the room should meet the following standards:

Temperature: between 20-25°C
Humidity: between 40-60%
Ventilation area: at least 15%
CO content: below 10 ppm

Q: What are the risks associated with poor air quality in the room?

A: Poor air quality in the room can lead to a range of health problems, including respiratory tract infections, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.

Q: How can I improve air quality in the room?

A: There are several ways to improve air quality in the room, including:

Increasing room ventilation
Using air purifiers
Reducing the use of chemicals and fragrances
Creating a special space for smoking
Providing education and training to employees on the importance of maintaining good air quality in the room

Q: What are the benefits of maintaining good air quality in the room?

A: Maintaining good air quality in the room can have several benefits, including:

Improved employee health and well-being
Increased productivity and job satisfaction
Reduced absenteeism and turnover
Improved reputation and competitiveness

Q: How can I monitor air quality in the room?

A: There are several ways to monitor air quality in the room, including:

Using air quality monitors
Conducting regular air quality tests
Monitoring employee complaints and feedback
Reviewing air quality data and reports

Q: What are the consequences of not maintaining good air quality in the room?

A: The consequences of not maintaining good air quality in the room can be severe, including:

Employee health problems and absenteeism
Reduced productivity and job satisfaction
Negative impact on reputation and competitiveness
Increased costs and liabilities

Q: How can I implement policies and regulations to ensure good air quality in the room?

A: Implementing policies and regulations to ensure good air quality in the room can be achieved by:

Developing and enforcing air quality standards
Providing education and training to employees on the importance of maintaining good air quality in the room
Conducting regular air quality tests and monitoring
Reviewing and updating air quality policies and regulations regularly

Q: What are the future research directions for air quality in the room?

A: Future research directions for air quality in the room may include:

Investigating the relationship between air quality and employee health in more detail
Conducting larger studies with more diverse sample populations
Measuring a wider range of air quality parameters
Exploring the effectiveness of different interventions aimed at improving air quality in the room.