Abstract:
Objective To investigate the sanitary condition of shopping malls (supermarkets) and waiting rooms in Changzhou, China from 2021 to 2023, to identify potential health risk factors, and to provide data support for protecting population health and formulating corresponding health policies.
Methods From 2021 to 2023, monitoring of health risk factors for public places was conducted in shopping malls (supermarkets) and waiting rooms in Changzhou. Samples including indoor air and public articles were collected. Physical parameters (temperature, relative humidity, noise, and air velocity), chemical indicatorsfine particulate matter (PM2.5), inhalable particulate matter (PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2), and microorganism indicators (total bacterial count, coliforms, and Staphylococcus aureus) were detected according to the Examination Methods for Public Places (GB/T 18204). The monitoring data were evaluated against the Hygienic Indicators and Limits for Public Places (GB 37488-2019).
Results A total of 3 392 data items were monitored in shopping malls (supermarkets) and waiting rooms in Changzhou from 2021 to 2023, with an overall qualified rate of 85.58%. The difference in qualified rates among different years was statistically significant (χ2=12.33, P=0.002), with qualified rates being higher in 2022 and 2023 than in 2021. The qualified rate in summer (87.00%) was significantly higher than that in winter (84.02%) (χ2=6.07, P < 0.05). The median values for temperature, relative humidity, noise, air velocity, PM2.5, PM10, CO, CO2, and total bacterial count were 22.2℃, 53%, 67 dB(A), 0.06 m/s, 38 μg/m3, 100 μg/m3, 1.5 mg/m3, 0.057%, and 45 CFU/m3, respectively. The qualified rates for noise and temperature were the lowest (14.37% and 32.18%, respectively), followed by relative humidity, PM10, and PM2.5 (60.92%, 72.41%, and 74.71%, respectively). The qualified rates for the remaining indicators were all above 90%. The differences in qualified rates for PM2.5, PM10, CO2, total bacterial count, and S. aureus across different years were statistically significant (χ2=9.54-19.71, P < 0.05), with the highest qualified rates identified for PM2.5 and PM10 and the lowest rate for CO2 in 2022, and the lowest rates for total bacterial count and coliforms in 2021. The qualified rate for noise in waiting rooms was higher than that in shopping malls (supermarkets) (P < 0.001). The qualified rates for temperature, PM10, and PM2.5 were significantly higher in summer than in winter (χ2=15.64-39.50, P < 0.05). Staphylococcus aureus and coliforms were detected in shopping cart baskets (8 and 1 sample(s), respectively) and at checkout counters (6 and 1 sample(s), respectively), with unqualified rates of 2.58% and 0.31%, primarily occurring in 2021, respectively.
Conclusion The overall sanitary condition of shopping malls (supermarkets) and waiting rooms in Changzhou from 2021 to 2023 was good. However, continued focus is needed on noise pollution and microbial contamination of public articles in shopping malls (supermarkets), as well as PM2.5 and PM10 levels in winter.