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Stampfer O, Zuidema C, Allen RW, Fox J, Sampson P, Seto E, Karr CJ. Practical considerations for using low-cost sensors to assess wildfire smoke exposure in school and childcare settings. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2024:10.1038/s41370-024-00677-8. [PMID: 38730039 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-024-00677-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND More frequent and intense wildfires will increase concentrations of smoke in schools and childcare settings. Low-cost sensors can assess fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations with high spatial and temporal resolution. OBJECTIVE We sought to optimize the use of sensors for decision-making in schools and childcare settings during wildfire smoke to reduce children's exposure to PM2.5. METHODS We measured PM2.5 concentrations indoors and outdoors at four schools in Washington State during wildfire smoke in 2020-2021 using low-cost sensors and gravimetric samplers. We randomly sampled 5-min segments of low-cost sensor data to create simulations of brief portable handheld measurements. RESULTS During wildfire smoke episodes (lasting 4-19 days), median hourly PM2.5 concentrations at different locations inside a single facility varied by up to 49.6 µg/m3 (maximum difference) during school hours. Median hourly indoor/outdoor ratios across schools ranged from 0.22 to 0.91. Within-school differences in concentrations indicated that it is important to collect measurements throughout a facility. Simulation results suggested that making handheld measurements more often and over multiple days better approximates indoor/outdoor ratios for wildfire smoke. During a period of unstable air quality, PM2.5 over the next hour indoors was more highly correlated with the last 10-min of data (mean R2 = 0.94) compared with the last 3-h (mean R2 = 0.60), indicating that higher temporal resolution data is most informative for decisions about near-term activities indoors. IMPACT STATEMENT As wildfires continue to increase in frequency and severity, staff at schools and childcare facilities are increasingly faced with decisions around youth activities, building use, and air filtration needs during wildfire smoke episodes. Staff are increasingly using low-cost sensors for localized outdoor and indoor PM2.5 measurements, but guidance in using and interpreting low-cost sensor data is lacking. This paper provides relevant information applicable for guidance in using low-cost sensors for wildfire smoke response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orly Stampfer
- University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
| | - Christopher Zuidema
- University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - Ryan W Allen
- Simon Fraser University Faculty of Health Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Julie Fox
- Washington State Department of Health, 101 Israel Rd. S.E., Tumwater, WA, 98501, USA
| | - Paul Sampson
- University of Washington Department of Statistics; B-313 Padelford Hall, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Edmund Seto
- University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - Catherine J Karr
- University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
- University of Washington Department of Pediatrics, 4245 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
- Northwest Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
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Issakhov A, Omarova P, Abylkassymova A. Determination of optimal height of barriers to reduce the amount of pollution in the viaduct settings in an idealized urban canyon: a numerical study. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 195:178. [PMID: 36471175 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10751-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we numerically investigate the process of atmospheric air pollution in idealized urban canyons along the road in the presence of a viaduct, taking into account different height of barriers. To solve this problem, the 3D Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations (RANS) were used. The closure of this system of equations was achieved by using various turbulent models. The verification of the mathematical model and the numerical algorithm was carried out using a test problem. The obtained results using various turbulent models were compared with experimental data and calculated results of other authors. The main problem considered in this work is characterized as follows: assessment of emissions of pollutants between buildings using barriers of various types in the presence of a viaduct. Computational results have shown that the barrier viaduct plays a large role in improving air quality in urban canyons. So, for example, a barrier erected on a viaduct with a height of 2 m reduces the concentration value to a cross-section x = 84 by more than 2 times in comparison with the case of a complete absence of protective barriers. A similar situation was observed with barriers erected above the earth's surface: located along the road, they also significantly reduce the value of the concentration of pollutants. Thus, the presence of barriers in both cases is necessary to prevent the dispersion and deposition of pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alibek Issakhov
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.
- Kazakh British Technical University, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.
- International Information Technology University, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.
| | - Perizat Omarova
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan
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On the Effects of Lateral Openings on Courtyard Ventilation and Pollution—A Large-Eddy Simulation Study. ATMOSPHERE 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos10020063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Courtyards are an omnipresent feature within the urban environment. Residents often use courtyards as recreation areas, which makes them crucial for the physical and psychological comfort of the urban population. However, considering that courtyards represent enclosed cavities, they are often poorly ventilated spaces and pollutants from neighboring traffic, once entrained, can pose a serious threat to human health. Here, we studied the effects of lateral openings on courtyard pollution and ventilation. Therefore, we performed a set of large-eddy simulations for idealized urban environments with different courtyard configurations. While pollutant concentration and ventilation are barely modified by lateral openings for wide courtyards, lateral openings have a significant effect on the mean concentration, the number of high-concentration events and the ventilation within narrower and deeper courtyards. The impacts of lateral openings on air quality within courtyards strongly depend on their orientation with respect to the flow direction, as well as on the upstream flow conditions and upstream building configuration. We show that lateral openings, in most cases, have a negative impact on air quality; nevertheless, we also present configurations where lateral openings positively impact the air quality within courtyards. These outcomes may certainly contribute to improve future urban planning in terms of health protection.
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Zauli-Sajani S, Rovelli S, Trentini A, Bacco D, Marchesi S, Scotto F, Zigola C, Lauriola P, Cavallo DM, Poluzzi V, Cattaneo A, Hänninen O. Higher health effects of ambient particles during the warm season: The role of infiltration factors. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 627:67-77. [PMID: 29426191 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A large number of studies have shown much higher health effects of particulate matter (PM) during the warm compared to the cold season. In this paper we present the results of an experimental study carried out in an unoccupied test apartment with the aim of understanding the reasons behind the seasonal variations of the health effects due to ambient PM2.5 exposure. Measurements included indoor and outdoor PM2.5 mass and chemical composition as well as particle size distribution of ultrafine particles. Monitoring campaigns were carried out during summer and winter following a ventilation protocol developed to replicate typical occupant behaviour according to a questionnaire-based survey. Our findings showed that seasonal variation of the relationship between ambient and indoor mass concentrations cannot entirely explain the apparent difference in PM toxicity between seasons and size distribution and chemical composition of particles were identified as other possible causes of changes in the apparent PM toxicity. A marked decrease of ultrafine particles (<100 nm) passing from outdoors to indoors was observed during winter; this resulted in higher indoor exposure to nanoparticles (<50 nm) during summer. With regards to the chemical composition, a pooled analysis showed infiltration factors of chemical species similar to that obtained for PM2.5 mass with values increasing from 0.73 during winter to 0.90 during summer and few deviations from the pooled estimates. In particular, significantly lower infiltration factors and sink effect were found for nitrates and ammonium during winter. In addition, a marked increase in the contribution of indoor and outdoor sulfates to the total mass was observed during summer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Zauli-Sajani
- Regional Centre for Environment and Health, Arpae Emilia-Romagna, Via Begarelli, 13, 41121 Modena, Italy.
| | - Sabrina Rovelli
- Department of Science and High Technology, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Arianna Trentini
- Regional Centre for Urban Areas, Arpae Emilia-Romagna, Largo Caduti del Lavoro, 6, 40122 Bologna, Italy
| | - Dimitri Bacco
- Regional Centre for Urban Areas, Arpae Emilia-Romagna, Largo Caduti del Lavoro, 6, 40122 Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Marchesi
- Regional Centre for Environment and Health, Arpae Emilia-Romagna, Via Begarelli, 13, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Fabiana Scotto
- Regional Centre for Urban Areas, Arpae Emilia-Romagna, Largo Caduti del Lavoro, 6, 40122 Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudia Zigola
- Provincial District of Ravenna, Arpae Emilia-Romagna, Via Alberoni, 17/19, 48121 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Paolo Lauriola
- Regional Centre for Environment and Health, Arpae Emilia-Romagna, Via Begarelli, 13, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Domenico Maria Cavallo
- Department of Science and High Technology, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Vanes Poluzzi
- Regional Centre for Urban Areas, Arpae Emilia-Romagna, Largo Caduti del Lavoro, 6, 40122 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Cattaneo
- Department of Science and High Technology, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Otto Hänninen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland
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Zauli Sajani S, Marchesi S, Trentini A, Bacco D, Zigola C, Rovelli S, Ricciardelli I, Maccone C, Lauriola P, Cavallo DM, Poluzzi V, Cattaneo A, Harrison RM. Vertical variation of PM 2.5 mass and chemical composition, particle size distribution, NO 2, and BTEX at a high rise building. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 235:339-349. [PMID: 29304467 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Substantial efforts have been made in recent years to investigate the horizontal variability of air pollutants at regional and urban scales and epidemiological studies have taken advantage of resulting improvements in exposure assessment. On the contrary, only a few studies have investigated the vertical variability and their results are not consistent. In this study, a field experiment has been conducted to evaluate the variation of concentrations of different particle metrics and gaseous pollutants on the basis of floor height at a high rise building. Two 15-day monitoring campaigns were conducted in the urban area of Bologna, Northern Italy, one of the most polluted areas in Europe. Measurements sites were operated simultaneously at 2, 15, 26, 44 and 65 m a.g.l. Several particulate matter metrics including PM2.5 mass and chemical composition, particle number concentration and size distribution were measured. Time integrated measurement of NO2 and BTEX were also included in the monitoring campaigns. Measurements showed relevant vertical gradients for most traffic related pollutants. A monotonic gradient of PM2.5 was found with ground-to-top differences of 4% during the warm period and 11% during the cold period. Larger gradients were found for UFP (∼30% during both seasons) with a substantial loss of particles from ground to top in the sub-50 nm size range. The largest drops in concentrations for chemical components were found for Elemental Carbon (-27%), iron (-11%) and tin (-36%) during winter. The ground-to-top decline of concentrations for NO2 and benzene during winter was equal to 74% and 35%, respectively. In conclusion, our findings emphasize the need to include vertical variations of urban air pollutants when evaluating population exposure and associated health effects, especially in relation to some traffic related pollutants and particle metrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Zauli Sajani
- Regional Centre for Environment and Health, ARPAE Emilia-Romagna, Via Begarelli, 13, 41121 Modena, Italy.
| | - Stefano Marchesi
- Regional Centre for Environment and Health, ARPAE Emilia-Romagna, Via Begarelli, 13, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Arianna Trentini
- Regional Centre for Urban Areas, ARPAE Emilia-Romagna, Via Rocchi, 19, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Dimitri Bacco
- Regional Centre for Urban Areas, ARPAE Emilia-Romagna, Via Rocchi, 19, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudia Zigola
- Provincial District of Ravenna, ARPAE Emilia-Romagna, Via Giulio Alberoni17, 48121 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Sabrina Rovelli
- Department of Science and High Technology, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Isabella Ricciardelli
- Regional Centre for Urban Areas, ARPAE Emilia-Romagna, Via Rocchi, 19, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Maccone
- Regional Centre for Urban Areas, ARPAE Emilia-Romagna, Via Rocchi, 19, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Lauriola
- Regional Centre for Environment and Health, ARPAE Emilia-Romagna, Via Begarelli, 13, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Domenico Maria Cavallo
- Department of Science and High Technology, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Vanes Poluzzi
- Regional Centre for Urban Areas, ARPAE Emilia-Romagna, Via Rocchi, 19, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Cattaneo
- Department of Science and High Technology, Università degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Valleggio 11 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Roy M Harrison
- Division of Environmental Health and Risk Management, School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
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Exposure Assessment Methods in Studies on Waste Management and Health Effects: An Overview. ENVIRONMENTS 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/environments4010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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