ABSTRACT
The present work aimed at measuring TSP, noise, and lighting levels in school environment and determining their possible effects on the health status of students. A systematic sample of 18 schools was selected from the Eastern region of Alexandria. From each school, 2-3 classrooms were selected at random where measurements of TSP, noise, and lighting levels were carried out. A total of 646 students were selected from 6 positions inside 46 classrooms. The health impacts of the studied parameters were assessed using a precoded observation sheet. The average TSP level was 2.10 +/- 1.30 mg/m[3]. Schools and classrooms near markets showed significantly the maximum average TSP [3.38 +/- 0.59 mg/m[3]] while those lying within residential areas showed the lowest average [1.33 +/- 0.67 mg/m[3]]. No significant difference between pupils classified by history of allergy in the average TSP levels was found. The average noise levels were 64.45 +/- 3.7 dB and 71.36 +/- 4.08 dB during complete silence in the morning and afternoon respectively, 75.32 +/- 3.85 dB during a lesson, and 78.32 +/- 6.87 dB during tram or train passage. All noise levels exceeded the recommended maximum permissible levels [42-55 dB]. No statistically significant association could be detected between noise during a lesson in one hand and hearing acuity, performance, and concentration in the other. The median lighting level was 27.9 foot-candles. Pupils with visual acuity lower than 6/9 were significantly exposed to a higher average lighting level than those with visual acuity of 6/6 or 6/9 [Mann-Whitney Z = 2.59. P<0.01]