Background: A proper and adequate school environment is important for an effective learning process and maintaining the health of the students as they spend most of their time in schools. The physical school environment includes the physical structures; presence of chemicals and biological agents; and the surrounding environment, including air, water, and materials. This study aimed to evaluate the indoor air quality (IAQ) in governmental girls’ schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: Seventeen girls’ schools were randomly selected in the Eastern Province of KSA. The indoor levels of PM10 and PM2.5, volatile organic compounds, CO, NO2, and CO2 were measured at different sites inside each school during four months of the year 2020. In addition, a pre-designed questionnaire was used to evaluate the safety preparedness in the same selected schools. Results: Levels of the six air pollutants were higher inside schools adjacent to roads with moderate traffic activity than schools with low and very low traffic activity. However, the mean level of CO2 inside the selected schools was higher than its outdoor level, suggesting the predominance of an indoor source of CO2. Levels of all measured air pollutants inside governmental constructed school buildings were higher than those inside the rental type. Conclusion: The average levels of air pollutants inside the selected schools were much lower than their air quality guidelines (AQGs), while some CO2 and NO2 levels exceeded their AQGs at some schools.

A drastic level of resource degradation was revealed through a preliminary evaluation (completed in 2016) of water quality in a recreational lake in the second industrial city in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The primary signs were a foul smell, algal bloom, high turbidity, and lack of aquatic life. This study aims to evaluate the influence of reverse osmosis (RO) on lake water quality. The recreational lake consists of two connected lakes (Lakes 1 and 2), which receive treated effluent from an industrial wastewater treatment plant. Composite samples were collected from the lakes to analyze their physiochemical parameters. Descriptive analyses were performed, and two water quality indices were developed to observe the variations in water quality conditions between the two periods (2016 and 2021). The results indicated that the water parameters of total dissolved solids (TDS), sulphate (SO₄²⁻), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and dissolved oxygen (DO) in 2016 (3356, 4100, 516, and 1.32 mg/L, respectively) were significantly improved in 2021 (2502, 1.28, 9.39, and 7.79 mg/L, respectively). The results of the water quality index (WQI) and comprehensive pollution index (CPI) indicated that the water quality in Lake 1 was significantly enhanced in 2021 (WQI = 85, CPI = 1) in comparison with assessment data from 2016 (WQI = 962, CPI = 8). However, the data from Lake 2 revealed higher pollution levels in 2021 (WQI = 1722, CPI = 18) than those recorded in 2016 (WQI = 1508, CPI = 13). As indicated by the absence of bad smells, algal blooms, and restoration of aquatic life, the RO intervention successfully improved the water quality in Lake 1. The WQI and CPI were helpful tools for evaluating lake water quality.

Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) has been linked to nonspecific health complaints, known as sick building syndrome (SBS). This cross-sectional study explored the association between common factors affecting IAQ and the prevalence of SBS among adult residents in the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA), Saudi Arabia. Data on SBS symptoms and related factors, including demographic information, housing characteristics, and environmental conditions were collected from 726 residents using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between these factors and SBS. The overall prevalence of SBS in this study was 48.2%, with skin symptoms the most frequently reported, followed by general, respiratory, and eye symptoms. Factors associated with SBS included pet ownership, mold, cockroaches, passive smoking, tile flooring, home renovations, and accumulated dust. Although the cross-sectional design and the reliance on self-reported data may present limitations, these findings highlight a potential health risk in Saudi homes. Preventive measures are needed to improve IAQ in household environments, thereby reducing the risk of SBS and other related health effects.

Coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, still has a terrifying potential due to its continuous genetic variation. Although vaccines have been created, adherence to preventive measures remains a privileged choice to tackle the pandemic. This study aims to investigate the anxiety, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) towards COVID-19 infection in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 400 participants via an online self-structured questionnaire. Anxiety, attitude, and practice scores were calculated by summing the points of the statements under the corresponding domain multiplied by 100 over 12, 21, or 15, respectively. Chi-square and one-way analysis of variance were used to investigate the relationships between vaccination, anxiety, attitude, practice scores, and demographic characteristics. More than half of the participants were female (58.5%; mean age of 29.5 years; the majority in the age groups of 50 years) were more vaccinated (16.3% and 24.1%, respectively, p = 0.000), as well as the unemployed (36.4%; p = 0.000). The mean scores of anxiety, attitude, and practice were 66.8, 72.3, and 85.2, respectively. Females had an anxiety score of 68.5% (p = 0.008) and a higher attitude score of 68.5% (p = 0.008). Infected male participants had a lower practice score of 80% (p = 0.038), while females recorded higher practice scores (85.7 ± 11.6). The results highlight the importance of reliable communication from health representatives and legislators in educating the public and promoting their knowledge about non-therapeutic interventions. Efficient intervention approaches are required to fill the gap during the implementation of non-therapeutic measures. Also, it is recommended that awareness programs, during COVID-19 or any other similar pandemics, should be tailored to target Eastern Province inhabitants, especially males.

Management of sustainable solid waste MSW, it is how to deal with sustainable waste through services provided to the community and how to benefit from it as a product that affects the national income. which refers to the collection and treatment of solid waste before final disposal. The Mu-nicipal solid waste management in Dammam is based on generating and collecting MSW from different sources in Dammam, including individual and community bins. The main aim of this study was accessing the generation rate and composition of MSW in different income levels, evaluating the current MSW practice including knowledge, attitude, and satisfaction of residents toward the MSW management services in Dammam as a representative city of other large and important cities in Saudi Arabi. A multi-stage grouping method was used for dividing the population into three soci-oeconomic groups (high, middle- and low-class), and an equal number of participants was selected by a statistically simple random method. Collection of data was conducted by a pre-designed questionnaire for six months. Wood and garden waste represented the highest amounts (38.39 and 33.76 ton/year respectively), followed by Aluminum, paper and plastic (29.31, 28.53 and 27.29 ton/year respectively). Most of the solid waste collected from homes and community gathering places in Dammam is collected by collecting garbage and transporting it to private landfills, then the final stage is where it is buried by companies that fall under the responsibility of the Eastern Province Municipality, but it produces unpleasant odors whether in transportation or burial, which prompted the Saudi government to develop dealing with waste in a better way. Only 10-15% of the collected MSW is recycled including paper, metals, and plastics. Indeed, sorting and recycling sustainable waste has had a significant psychological impact on the community and the residents of Dammam are trying to understand how recycling can improve their income.

Background A proper and adequate school environment is important for an effective learning process and maintaining the health of the students as they spend most of their time in schools. The physical school environment includes the physical structures; presence of chemicals and biological agents; and the surrounding environment, including air, water, and materials. This study aimed to evaluate the indoor air quality (IAQ) in governmental girls’ schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods Seventeen girls’ schools were randomly selected in the Eastern Province of KSA. The indoor levels of PM10 and PM2.5, volatile organic compounds, CO, NO2, and CO2 were measured at different sites inside each school during four months of the year 2020. Results Levels of the six air pollutants were higher inside schools adjacent to roads with moderate traffic activity than schools with low and very low traffic activity. However, the mean level of CO2 inside the selected schools was higher than its outdoor level, suggesting the predominance of an indoor source of CO2. The levels of all measured air pollutants inside governmentally constructed school buildings were higher than those inside the rental type. Conclusion The average levels of air pollutants inside the selected schools were much lower than their air quality guidelines (AQGs), while some CO2 and NO2 levels exceeded their AQGs at some schools.