CHARACTERIZATION OF AIR-QUALITY PROBLEMS IN 5 FINNISH INDOOR ICE ARENAS

The air quality in five Finnish ice arenas with different volumes, ven tilation systems, and resurfacer power sources (propane, gasoline, ele ctric) was monitored during a usual training evening and a standardize d, simulated ice hockey game. The measurements included continuous rec ording of carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), and nitrogen dioxid e (NO2) concentrations, and sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Emissions from the ice resurfacers with combustion e ngines caused indoor air quality problems in all ice arenas. The highe st 1-hour average CO and NO2 concentrations ranged from 20 to 33 mg/m( 3), (17 to 29 ppm) and 270 to 7440 mu g/m(3) (0.14 to 3.96 ppm), respe ctively. The 3-hour total VOC concentrations ranged from 150 to 1200 m u g/m(3). The highest CO and VOC levels were measured in the arena in which a gasoline-fueled resurfacer was used. The highest NO2 levels we re measured in small ice arenas with propane-fueled ice resurfacers an d insufficient ventilation. In these arenas, the indoor NO2 levels wer e about 100 times the levels measured in ambient outdoor air, and the highest 1-hour concentrations were about 20 times the national and Wor ld Health Organization (WHO) health-based air quality guidelines. The air quality was fully acceptable only in the arena with an electric re surfacer. The present study showed that the air quality problems of in door ice arenas may vary with the fuel type of resurfacer and the volu me and ventilation of arena building. It also confirmed that there are severe air quality problems in Finnish ice arenas similar to those pr eviously described in North America.