Sains Malaysiana 55(6)(2026): 949-958

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5506-01

 

Principal Component Analysis for Identifying Key Indoor Air Quality Factors in a Healthcare Facility

(Analisis Komponen Utama untuk Mengenal Pasti Faktor Kualiti Udara Dalaman Utama di Fasiliti Penjagaan Kesihatan)

 

NUR SHAHIDAH NAZRI^1.2,*, NURUL AIN MOHAMED², MOHD AKRAM IZ’AAN MOHD ALI², NUR SARAH FATIHAH TAMSI³, MOHD SHUKRI MOHD ARIS³ & MARYAM ZAHABA³

 

¹Centre of Studies for Department of Environmental Health and Safety, UiTM Puncak Alam, 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

 ²Airscan Sdn. Bhd., Persiaran Barat, PJS 52, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

 ³Department of Chemistry, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia, Jalan Istana, Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia

 

Diserahkan: 29 Julai 2025/Diterima: 15 Mei 2026

 

Abstract

Effective management of indoor air quality (IAQ) is essential in healthcare settings, serving as a key element in supporting sustainability through patient comfort and staff well-being. This study aims to establish a baseline IAQ dataset as part of sustainability programs (SP) in Malaysian government healthcare facilities and determine primary contributors for IAQ variability by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). IAQ assessment was conducted in four departments at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Endoscopy Clinic (EC), Psychiatric Clinic (PC), Cytotoxic Drug Reconstitution (CDR), and Information Technology (IT) based on the Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality (ICOP on IAQ 2010). Eleven parameters were measured, and PCA was performed using XLSTAT 2019 software to identify dominant influencing IAQ parameters. Results showed most IAQ parameters complied with acceptable ranges; however, deviations were observed in air temperature (21.43 ± 0.61 °C), air movement (0.13 ± 0.01 m/s), relative humidity (68.85 ± 5.38%), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration (760.5 ± 413.63 ppm), particularly at P6-PC where CO₂ peaked at 1380 ppm. One-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) in CO₂ and RH across departments. PCA results identified CO₂, total bacterial count (TBC), and total fungal count (TFC) as dominant contributors, with loadings exceeding 0.75. Variations in occupancy and ventilation performance were the main contributors to IAQ differences between departments. This study underscores the importance of targeted IAQ interventions tailored to departmental functions and reinforces the role of PCA supported IAQ assessment in advancing sustainable healthcare facility management.

Keywords: Healthcare facilities; indoor air quality; sustainability management

 

Abstrak

Pengurusan kualiti udara dalaman (IAQ) yang berkesan adalah penting dalam persekitaran penjagaan kesihatan kerana ia merupakan elemen utama dalam menyokong kelestarian melalui keselesaan pesakit dan kesejahteraan kakitangan. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mewujudkan set data asas IAQ sebagai sebahagian daripada program kelestarian (SP) di fasiliti penjagaan kesihatan kerajaan Malaysia dan menentukan penyumbang utama kepada kevariabelan IAQ menggunakan Analisis Komponen Utama (PCA). Penilaian IAQ telah dijalankan di empat jabatan di Hospital Kuala Lumpur iaitu Klinik Endoskopi (EC), Klinik Psikiatri (PC), Unit Rekonstitusi Ubat Sitotoksik (CDR) dan Teknologi Maklumat (IT) berdasarkan Kod Amalan Industri mengenai Kualiti Udara Dalaman (ICOP on IAQ 2010). Sebanyak sebelas parameter telah diukur dan PCA dijalankan menggunakan perisian XLSTAT 2019 untuk mengenal pasti parameter IAQ yang paling dominan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan kebanyakan parameter IAQ mematuhi julat dan had yang boleh diterima, namun terdapat penyimpangan pada suhu udara (21.43 ± 0.61 °C), pergerakan udara (0.13 ± 0.01 m/s), kelembapan relatif (68.85 ± 5.38%) dan kepekatan karbon dioksida (CO₂) (760.5 ± 413.63 ppm), terutamanya di P6-PC dengan CO₂ mencecah 1380 ppm. Ujian ANOVA sehala dan ujian pasca hoc Tukey menunjukkan perbezaan yang signifikan secara statistik (p < 0.001) bagi CO₂ dan RH antara jabatan. Keputusan PCA mengenal pasti CO₂, jumlah kiraan bakteria (TBC) dan jumlah kiraan kulat (TFC) sebagai penyumbang dominan dengan nilai pemuatan melebihi 0.75. Variasi dalam kepadatan penghuni dan prestasi pengudaraan dikenal pasti sebagai penyumbang utama kepada perbezaan IAQ antara jabatan. Kajian ini menekankan kepentingan intervensi IAQ yang disasarkan mengikut fungsi jabatan dan mengukuhkan peranan penilaian IAQ yang disokong oleh PCA dalam memajukan pengurusan fasiliti penjagaan kesihatan yang lestari.

Kata kunci: Fasiliti penjagaan kesihatan; kualiti udara dalaman; pengurusan kelestarian

 

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: syida.iaq@gmail.com