{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,28]],"date-time":"2026-01-28T11:22:40Z","timestamp":1769599360807,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,1]],"date-time":"2024-07-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1719792000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics (ADAI)","award":["UIDB\/50022\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/50022\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics (ADAI)","award":["LA\/P\/0079\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LA\/P\/0079\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Associate Laboratory of Energy, Transports and Aerospace (LAETA)","award":["UIDB\/50022\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/50022\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Associate Laboratory of Energy, Transports and Aerospace (LAETA)","award":["LA\/P\/0079\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LA\/P\/0079\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Buildings"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study critically examines the impact of indoor air quality (IAQ) on occupant health in two critical care units (ICUs) at Jason Sendwe Hospital (JSH) and General Carrier de Mine Hospital (GCMH) within the Southern DRC metropolitan area, focusing on their impact on occupant health and well-being. Utilizing a mixed methods approach that includes health questionnaires, continuous environmental monitoring (monitoring CO2, VOCs, PM2.5, PM10, temperature, and relative humidity), and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, this research aims to identify correlations between environmental factors and the health of hospital staff and patients. The investigation was conducted across both the rainy and dry seasons, revealing significant seasonal variations in IEQ parameters and exploring the incidence of symptoms commonly associated with sick building syndrome among hospital staff. Higher CO2, VOCs, and particulate matter levels during the dry season indicated the inadequacy of current ventilation strategies to maintain optimal air quality. This study proposes the implementation of air filtration and purification systems and the refurbishment of natural ventilation systems as effective measures to improve IAQ. Additionally, alternative ventilation strategies, including occupancy reduction and the integration of supply and exhaust ventilation, were explored to address the challenges of inadequate ventilation. The findings reveal the urgent need for hospitals to adopt ventilation strategies that ensure the health and well-being of occupants, highlighting the importance of continuous IAQ monitoring, community engagement, and the integration of advanced ventilation technologies in healthcare settings. This comprehensive exploration offers valuable insights for improving ventilation in ICUs, contributing to creating healthier indoor environments in hospital settings, especially in regions facing unique environmental challenges.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/buildings14071996","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,1]],"date-time":"2024-07-01T08:17:29Z","timestamp":1719821849000},"page":"1996","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Ventilation Strategies to Mitigate Air Pollution Impact on Hospital Professionals in Intensive Care Units in the Democratic Republic of Congo"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5948-5303","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jean-Paul Kapuya Bulaba","family":"Nyembwe","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, ADAI, University of Coimbra, P\u00f3lo II, Rua Lu\u00eds Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Architectural Route Kasapa, New Horizons University, 2465, Gambela, Lubumbashi 1280, Democratic Republic of the Congo"},{"name":"Department of Civil Engineering, Official University of Mbuji-Mayi, Av Kalonji no 27, Q\/Kansele, Mbuji-Mayi 8330, Democratic Republic of the Congo"}]},{"given":"Joel Kwaleso","family":"Munanga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Architectural Route Kasapa, New Horizons University, 2465, Gambela, Lubumbashi 1280, Democratic Republic of the Congo"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3418-0030","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nuno","family":"Sim\u00f5es","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Itecons\u2014Institute for Research and Technological Development in Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Rua Pedro Hispano, 3030-289 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Civil Engineering, CERIS, University of Coimbra, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0739-9811","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuel Gameiro","family":"da Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering, ADAI, University of Coimbra, P\u00f3lo II, Rua Lu\u00eds Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12199-020-00904-2","article-title":"Environmental factors involved in SARS-CoV-2 transmission: Effect and role of indoor environmental quality in the strategy for COVID-19 infection control","volume":"25","author":"Azuma","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ. 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