PM2.5 and PM10 Compound Emissions in a Dental Clinic During Clinical Procedures

Abstract

This study assessed PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations and associated indoor environmental conditions during routine dental procedures in four dental clinics in Alzahraa, Tripoli, Libya. Measurements were obtained with a PCE-MPC 10 particle counter at baseline, 15 minutes, and 30 minutes. Using SPSS Statistics version 29.0.10, mean ± standard deviation, One-way ANOVA, and paired t-tests at a statistical significance level of p < 0.05 were applied to analyse the data. Across complete monitoring positions, mean PM2.5 increased from 426.88 µg/m³ at baseline to 454.62 µg/m³ at 15 minutes and 817.21 µg/m³ at 30 minutes, producing a significant time effect (F = 16.02, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.411). Mean PM10 similarly increased from 19.29 to 20.04 and 36.12 µg/m³ (F = 18.57, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.447). The major differences were mainly seen during the 30 minutes of testing. The temperature varied significantly but within a narrower range (F = 7.06, p = 0.002), while humidity did not change at all (F = 0.69, p = 0.508). Clinic 2 had the highest particulate loads among the clinics. It is clear from the data that there is particulate loading due to some procedures in dental clinics and the importance of improving particulate source removal.