Air Quality Dynamics in Higher Learning Environments: Evidence From Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

ABSTRACT Poor ambient air quality threatens public health, ecosystem integrity, and the learning environment in higher education settings. This study addresses the limited understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of air pollution within university campuses. It explores how significantly air quality relates across Sokoine University of Agriculture campuses to evaluate its compliance with established standards. The study applies a correlational design to quantify mass concentrations (µg/m 3 ) of particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ), PM ≤10 µm (PM 10 ), formaldehyde (HCHO), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) using a WP6930S‐100 portable detector. HCHO, TVOCs, and PM 2 . 5 and PM 10 were selected as key monitoring indicators due to their diverse emission sources and well‐documented adverse impacts on human health and the environment. Air pollutants have been measured across 13 indoor and outdoor emission‐prone microenvironments at the Solomon Mahlangu and Edward Moringe campuses. The device has been pre‐checked under stable indoor conditions to verify repeatability, with stabilization periods of 3–10 min observed before logging at a height of 1.5 m. Results show that measured pollutant mass concentrations at all monitored sites comply with limits set by Tanzania, the East African Community (EAC), and the World Health Organization (WHO), with minor exceedances in PM 2.5 concentrations at the Edward Moringe campuse's canteen relative to WHO guidelines. Pearson's correlation reveals a very strong weekday‐weekend afternoon relationship ( r ≤ 0.97), indicating consistent PM 2 . 5 , PM 10 , HCHO, and TVOCs patterns across different days and therefore rejecting significant campus‐level variability. The study enhances understanding of Sustainable Development Goal 11 by providing evidence‐based insights to air pollution monitoring in university‐built environments. Results carry uncertainty due to the limitations; co‐location with reference instruments is recommended.