Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a class of ubiquitous substances that are present in outdoor and indoor air. They are emitted by a wide range of sources and can penetrate and accumulate specifically in indoor environments. Concern is growing among the scientific community regarding the potential health impacts of exposure to a high concentration of VOCs in indoor spaces. Due to their still-developing respiratory and immune systems, children may be the most fragile subjects in this regard, and therefore, the study of indoor air quality in schools is of the utmost importance. In this work, the concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and of 20 specific compounds belonging to this class were determined in a school in Squinzano, a town in the province of Lecce (Apulia region, southern Italy). Sampling was carried out in indoor (classrooms and bathrooms) and outdoor (terrace) areas using passive diffusive samplers for VOCs and photoionization detectors for TVOCs. Average concentrations of both TVOC (303 ± 47 µg m⁻³) and individual VOCs (< 0.5 µg m⁻³) were below levels of concern; however, specific indoor sources such as cleaning activities and student occupancy were responsible for peaks in TVOC concentrations above harmless levels for children and school staff. The data were then compared to the ones obtained in a similar study conducted in a school in Galatina, another town of the Apulia region, highlighting the impact of the surrounding outdoor environment on the indoor profile of VOCs.

挥发性有机化合物（VOC）是一类普遍存在于室外和室内空气中的物质。它们由多种来源排放，可以渗透并特别在室内环境中积聚。科学界越来越担心室内空间中暴露于高浓度挥发性有机化合物对健康的潜在影响。由于儿童的呼吸系统和免疫系统尚未发育成熟，他们可能是这方面最脆弱的对象，因此，学校室内空气质量的研究至关重要。在这项工作中，测定了莱切省（意大利南部普利亚大区）小镇斯奎扎诺 (Squinzano) 的一所学校的总挥发性有机化合物 (TVOC) 和属于此类的 20 种特定化合物的浓度。使用 VOC 被动扩散采样器和 TVOC 光电离检测器在室内（教室和浴室）和室外（露台）区域进行采样。 TVOC (303 ± 47 µg m ^-3 ) 和个别 VOC (< 0.5 µg m ^-3 ) 的平均浓度均低于关注水平；然而，清洁活动和学生入住等特定室内来源导致 TVOC 浓度峰值超过对儿童和学校工作人员无害的水平。然后将这些数据与在普利亚地区另一个城镇加拉蒂纳的一所学校进行的类似研究中获得的数据进行比较，强调了周围室外环境对室内挥发性有机化合物的影响。