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Song Z, Chen L, Sun S, Yang G, Yu G. Unveiling the airborne microbial menace: Novel insights into pathogenic bacteria and fungi in bioaerosols from nursery schools to universities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172694. [PMID: 38670386 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172694] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial and fungal aerosol pollution is widespread in indoor school environments, and poses potential health risks to students and staff. Understanding the distribution and diversity of microbial communities within aerosols is crucial to mitigate their adverse effects. Existing knowledge regarding the composition of bacterial and fungal aerosols, particularly the presence of potential pathogenic microorganisms in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from nursery schools to universities, is limited. To bridge this knowledge gap, in the present study, we collected PM2.5 samples from five types of schools (i.e., nursery schools, primary schools, junior schools, and high schools and universities) in China. We used advanced single-molecule real-time sequencing to analyze the species-level diversity of bacterial and fungal components in PM2.5 samples based on 16S and ITS ribosomal genes, respectively. We found significant differences in microbial diversity and community composition among the samples obtained from different educational institutions and pollution levels. In particularly, junior schools exhibited higher PM2.5 concentrations (62.2-86.6 μg/m3) than other schools (14.4-48.4 μg/m3). Moreover, microbial variations in PM2.5 samples were associated with institution type. Notably, the prevailing pathogenic microorganisms included Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Schizophyllum commune, all of which were identified as Class II Pathogenic Microorganisms in school settings. Four potentially novel strains of S. commune were identified in PM2.5 samples collected from the university; the four strains showed 92.4 %-94.1 % ITS sequence similarity to known Schizophyllum isolates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore bacterial and fungal diversity within PM2.5 samples from nursery schools to universities. Overall, these findings contribute to the existing knowledge of school environmental microbiology to ensure the health and safety of students and staff and impacting public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Song
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Lei Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Shuwei Sun
- Jinan Licheng No.2 High School, Jinan 250109, China
| | - Guiwen Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Guanliu Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China.
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2
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Hou W, Wang J, Hu R, Chen Y, Shi J, Lin X, Qin Y, Zhang P, Du W, Tao S. Systematically quantifying the dynamic characteristics of PM 2.5 in multiple indoor environments in a plateau city: Implication for internal contribution. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 186:108641. [PMID: 38621323 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108641] [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: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
People generally spend most of their time indoors, making a comprehensive evaluation of air pollution characteristics in various indoor microenvironments of great significance for accurate exposure estimation. In this study, field measurements were conducted in Kunming City, Southwest China, using real-time PM2.5 sensors to characterize indoor PM2.5 in ten different microenvironments including three restaurants, four public places, and three household settings. Results showed that the daily average PM2.5 concentrations in restaurants, public spaces, and households were 78.4 ± 24.3, 20.1 ± 6.6, and 18.0 ± 4.3 µg/m3, respectively. The highest levels of indoor PM2.5 in restaurants were owing to strong internal emissions from cooking activities. Dynamic changes showed that indoor PM2.5 levels increased during business time in restaurants and public places, and cooking time in residential kitchens. Compared with public places, restaurants generally exhibit more rapid increases in indoor PM2.5 due to cooking activities, which can elevate indoor PM2.5 to high levels (5.1 times higher than the baseline) in a short time. Furthermore, indoor PM2.5 in restaurants were dominated by internal emissions, while outdoor penetration contributed mostly to indoor PM2.5 in public places and household settings. Results from this study revealed large variations in indoor PM2.5 in different microenvironments, and suggested site-specific measures for indoor PM2.5 pollution alleviation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiying Hou
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Faculty of Environmental Science & Engineering, Kunming University of Science &Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Jinze Wang
- Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ruijing Hu
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Faculty of Environmental Science & Engineering, Kunming University of Science &Technology, Kunming 650500, China; Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming 650092, China
| | - Yuanchen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310032, China
| | - Jianwu Shi
- Faculty of Environmental Science & Engineering, Kunming University of Science &Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Xianbiao Lin
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Yiming Qin
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Faculty of Environmental Science & Engineering, Kunming University of Science &Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Wei Du
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Faculty of Environmental Science & Engineering, Kunming University of Science &Technology, Kunming 650500, China.
| | - Shu Tao
- Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Ferguson L, Taylor J, Symonds P, Davies M, Dimitroulopoulou S. Analysis of inequalities in personal exposure to PM 2.5: A modelling study for the Greater London school-aged population. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167056. [PMID: 37717780 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167056] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to air pollution can lead to negative health impacts, with children highly susceptible due to their immature immune and lung systems. Childhood exposure may vary by socio-economic status (SES) due to differences in both outdoor and indoor air pollution levels, the latter of which depends on, for example, building quality, overcrowding and occupant behaviours; however, exposure estimates typically rely on the outdoor component only. Quantifying population exposure across SES requires accounting for variations in time-activity patterns, outdoor air pollution concentrations, and concentrations in indoor microenvironments that account for pollution-generating occupant behaviours and building characteristics. Here, we present a model that estimates personal exposure to PM2.5 for ~1.3 million children aged 4-16 years old in the Greater London region from different income groups. The model combines 1) A national time-activity database, which gives the percentage of each group in different residential and non-residential microenvironments throughout a typical day; 2) Distributions of modelled outdoor PM2.5 concentrations; 3) Detailed estimates of domestic indoor concentrations for different housing and occupant typologies from the building physics model, EnergyPlus, and; 4) Non-domestic concentrations derived from a mass-balance approach. The results show differences in personal exposure across socio-economic groups for children, where the median daily exposure across all scenarios (winter/summer and weekends/weekdays) is 17.2 μg/m3 (95%CIs: 12.1 μg/m3-41.2 μg/m3) for children from households in the lowest income quintile versus 14.5 μg/m3 (95%CIs: 11.5 μg/m3 - 27.9 μg/m3) for those in the highest income quintile. Though those from lower-income homes generally fare worse, approximately 57 % of London's school-aged population across all income groups, equivalent to 761,976 children, have a median daily exposure which exceeds guideline 24-h limits set by the World Health Organisation. The findings suggest residential indoor sources of PM2.5 are a large contributor to personal exposure for school children in London. Interventions to reduce indoor exposure in the home (for example, via the maintenance of kitchen extract ventilation and transition to cleaner cooking fuels) should therefore be prioritised along with the continued mitigation of outdoor sources in Greater London.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Ferguson
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, Bartlett School of Energy, Environment and Resources, University College London, UK; Air Quality and Public Health Group, UK Health Security Agency, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, UK.
| | - Jonathon Taylor
- Department of Civil Engineering, Tampere University, Finland
| | - Phil Symonds
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, Bartlett School of Energy, Environment and Resources, University College London, UK
| | - Michael Davies
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, Bartlett School of Energy, Environment and Resources, University College London, UK
| | - Sani Dimitroulopoulou
- Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, Bartlett School of Energy, Environment and Resources, University College London, UK; Air Quality and Public Health Group, UK Health Security Agency, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, UK
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Saraga DΕ, Querol X, Duarte RMBO, Aquilina NJ, Canha N, Alvarez EG, Jovasevic-Stojanovic M, Bekö G, Byčenkienė S, Kovacevic R, Plauškaitė K, Carslaw N. Source apportionment for indoor air pollution: Current challenges and future directions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 900:165744. [PMID: 37487894 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Source apportionment (SA) for indoor air pollution is challenging due to the multiplicity and high variability of indoor sources, the complex physical and chemical processes that act as primary sources, sinks and sources of precursors that lead to secondary formation, and the interconnection with the outdoor environment. While the major indoor sources have been recognized, there is still a need for understanding the contribution of indoor versus outdoor-generated pollutants penetrating indoors, and how SA is influenced by the complex processes that occur in indoor environments. This paper reviews our current understanding of SA, through reviewing information on the SA techniques used, the targeted pollutants that have been studied to date, and their source apportionment, along with limitations or knowledge gaps in this research field. The majority (78 %) of SA studies to date focused on PM chemical composition/size distribution, with fewer studies covering organic compounds such as ketones, carbonyls and aldehydes. Regarding the SA method used, the majority of studies have used Positive Matrix Factorization (31 %), Principal Component Analysis (26 %) and Chemical Mass Balance (7 %) receptor models. The indoor PM sources identified to date include building materials and furniture emissions, indoor combustion-related sources, cooking-related sources, resuspension, cleaning and consumer products emissions, secondary-generated pollutants indoors and other products and activity-related emissions. The outdoor environment contribution to the measured pollutant indoors varies considerably (<10 %- 90 %) among the studies. Future challenges for this research area include the need for optimization of indoor air quality monitoring and data selection as well as the incorporation of physical and chemical processes in indoor air into source apportionment methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dikaia Ε Saraga
- Atmospheric Chemistry & Innovative Technologies Laboratory, INRASTES, NCSR Demokritos, Aghia Paraskevi, Athens 15310, Greece.
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Regina M B O Duarte
- CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Noel J Aquilina
- Department of Chemistry - Faculty of Science, Chemistry Building, University of Malta, Malta
| | - Nuno Canha
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C(2)TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, Km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
| | - Elena Gómez Alvarez
- Department of Agronomy, University of Cordoba, Campus de Rabanales, 14071 Cordoba, Spain
| | - Milena Jovasevic-Stojanovic
- Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Gabriel Bekö
- Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark; Healthy and Sustainable Built Environment Research Centre, Ajman University, Ajman, P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
| | - Steigvilė Byčenkienė
- Department of Environmental Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC), Saulėtekio ave. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Kristina Plauškaitė
- Department of Environmental Research, Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC), Saulėtekio ave. 3, LT-10257 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Nicola Carslaw
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, UK
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Warkentin S, de Bont J, Abellan A, Pistillo A, Saucy A, Cirach M, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Khalid S, Basagaña X, Duarte-Salles T, Vrijheid M. Changes in air pollution exposure after residential relocation and body mass index in children and adolescents: A natural experiment study. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 334:122217. [PMID: 37467916 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122217] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution exposure may affect child weight gain, but observational studies provide inconsistent evidence. Residential relocation can be leveraged as a natural experiment by studying changes in health outcomes after a sudden change in exposure within an individual. We aimed to evaluate whether changes in air pollution exposure due to residential relocation are associated with changes in body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents in a natural experiment study. This population-based study included children and adolescents, between 2 and 17 years, who moved during 2011-2018 and were registered in the primary healthcare in Catalonia, Spain (N = 46,644). Outdoor air pollutants (nitrogen dioxides (NO2), particulate matter <10 μm (PM10) and <2.5 μm (PM2.5)) were estimated at residential census tract level before and after relocation; tertile cut-offs were used to define changes in exposure. Routinely measured weight and height were used to calculate age-sex-specific BMI z-scores. A minimum of 180 days after moving was considered to observe zBMI changes according to changes in exposure using linear fixed effects regression. The majority of participants (60-67% depending on the pollutant) moved to areas with similar levels of air pollution, 15-49% to less polluted, and 14-31% to more polluted areas. Moving to areas with more air pollution was associated with zBMI increases for all air pollutants (β NO2 = 0.10(95%CI 0.09; 0.12), β PM2.5 0.06(0.04; 0.07), β PM10 0.08(0.06; 0.10)). Moving to similar air pollution areas was associated with decreases in zBMI for all pollutants. No associations were found for those moving to less polluted areas. Associations with moving to more polluted areas were stronger in preschool- and primary school-ages. Associations did not differ by area deprivation strata. This large, natural experiment study suggests that increases in outdoor air pollution may be associated with child weight gain, supporting ongoing efforts to lower air pollution levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeroen de Bont
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Alicia Abellan
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Pistillo
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Marta Cirach
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Khalid
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK; Centre for Statistics in Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Xavier Basagaña
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Talita Duarte-Salles
- Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Alonso-Blanco E, Gómez-Moreno FJ, Díaz-Ramiro E, Fernández J, Coz E, Yagüe C, Román-Cascón C, Narros A, Borge R, Artíñano B. Real-Time Measurements of Indoor-Outdoor Exchange of Gaseous and Particulate Atmospheric Pollutants in an Urban Area. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6823. [PMID: 37835093 PMCID: PMC10572255 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20196823] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to health, causing millions of deaths and deleterious health effects worldwide, especially in urban areas where citizens are exposed to high ambient levels of pollutants, also influencing indoor air quality (IAQ). Many sources of indoor air are fairly obvious and well known, but the contribution of outside sources to indoor air still leads to significant uncertainties, in particular the influence that environmental variables have on outdoor/indoor pollutant exchange mechanisms. This is a critical aspect to consider in IAQ studies. In this respect, an experimental study was performed at a public site such as a university classroom during a non-academic period in Madrid city. This includes two field campaigns, in summer (2021) and winter (2020), where instruments for measuring gases and particle air pollutants simultaneously measured outdoor and indoor real-time concentrations. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic variations in the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios in terms of ambient outdoor conditions (meteorology, turbulence and air quality) and indoor features (human presence or natural ventilation). The results show that the I/O ratio is pollutant-dependent. In this sense, the infiltration capacity is higher for gaseous compounds, and in the case of particles, it depends on the particle size, with a higher infiltration capacity for smaller particles (
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Alonso-Blanco
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (E.D.-R.); (J.F.); (E.C.); (B.A.)
| | - Francisco Javier Gómez-Moreno
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (E.D.-R.); (J.F.); (E.C.); (B.A.)
| | - Elías Díaz-Ramiro
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (E.D.-R.); (J.F.); (E.C.); (B.A.)
| | - Javier Fernández
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (E.D.-R.); (J.F.); (E.C.); (B.A.)
| | - Esther Coz
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (E.D.-R.); (J.F.); (E.C.); (B.A.)
| | - Carlos Yagüe
- Department of Earth Physics and Astrophysics, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Carlos Román-Cascón
- Department of Applied Physics, Marine and Environmental Sciences Faculty, INMAR, CEIMAR, University of Cadiz, 11519 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain;
| | - Adolfo Narros
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), 28006 Madrid, Spain; (A.N.); (R.B.)
| | - Rafael Borge
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), 28006 Madrid, Spain; (A.N.); (R.B.)
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- Department of Environment, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain; (F.J.G.-M.); (E.D.-R.); (J.F.); (E.C.); (B.A.)
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Caumo S, Yera AB, Alves C, Rienda IC, Kováts N, Hubai K, de Castro Vasconcellos P. Assessing the chemical composition, potential toxicity and cancer risk of airborne fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) near a petrochemical industrial area. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023:104170. [PMID: 37295738 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In the vicinity of a petrochemical industrial region in São Paulo, Brazil, PM2.5-bound organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitro-PAHs, oxy-PAHs, hopanes, and inorganic species were evaluated. Oxidative potential (OP), burden (OB), and Alivibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition (AFBIA) assays were conducted to determine the potential health effects of exposure to these compounds. The PM2.5 mean concentration was 32.0±18.2µgm-3, and benzo (a)pyrene was found to exceed recommended levels by at least four times. Secondary sources and vehicular emissions were indicated by nitro-PAHs, oxy-PAHs, and inorganic species. The OP and OB results revealed that secondary compounds favored antioxidant depletion. The AFBIA results showed that 64% of the samples were toxic. These findings emphasize the need to reduce the exposure risk and take measures to protect human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Caumo
- Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Aleinnys B Yera
- Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Célia Alves
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ismael Casotti Rienda
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Nora Kováts
- Centre of Natural Environmental Sciences, University of Pannonia, Egyetem str. 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Katalin Hubai
- Centre of Natural Environmental Sciences, University of Pannonia, Egyetem str. 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary
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Pereira GM, Kamigauti LY, Nogueira T, Gavidia-Calderón ME, Monteiro Dos Santos D, Evtyugina M, Alves C, Vasconcellos PDC, de Freitas ED, Andrade MDF. Emission factors for a biofuel impacted fleet in south America's largest metropolitan area. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023:121826. [PMID: 37196840 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP) is among the largest urban areas in the Southern Hemisphere. Vehicular emissions are of great concern in metropolitan areas and MASP is unique due to the use of biofuels on a large scale (sugar-cane ethanol and biodiesel). In this work, tunnel measurements were employed to assess vehicle emissions and to calculate emission factors (EFs) for heavy-duty and light-duty vehicles (HDVs and LDVs). The EFs were determined for particulate matter (PM) and its chemical compounds. The EFs obtained for 2018 were compared with previous tunnel experiments performed in the same area. An overall trend of reduction of fine and coarse PM, organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC) EFs for both LDVs and HDVs was observed if compared to those observed in past years, suggesting the effectiveness of vehicular emissions control policies implemented in Brazil. A predominance of Fe, Cu, Al, and Ba metals emission was observed for the LDV fleet in the fine fraction. Cu presented higher emissions than two decades ago, which was associated with the increased use of ethanol fuel in the region. For HDVs, Zn and Pb were mostly emitted in the fine mode and were linked with lubricating oil emissions from diesel vehicles. A predominance in the emission of three- and four-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for HDVs and five-ring PAHs for LDVs agreed with what was observed in previous studies. The use of biofuels may explain the lower PAH emissions for LDVs (including carcinogenic BaP) compared to those observed in other countries. The tendency observed was that LDVs emit higher amounts of carcinogenic species. The use of these real EFs in air quality modeling resulted in more accurate simulations of PM concentrations, showing the importance of updating data with real-world measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Martins Pereira
- Departamento de Ciencias Atmosfericas, Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciencias Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil; Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Leonardo Yoshiaki Kamigauti
- Departamento de Ciencias Atmosfericas, Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciencias Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Thiago Nogueira
- Departamento de Ciencias Atmosfericas, Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciencias Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Mario Eduardo Gavidia-Calderón
- Departamento de Ciencias Atmosfericas, Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciencias Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | | | - Margarita Evtyugina
- Department of Environment, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Célia Alves
- Department of Environment, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | | | - Edmilson Dias de Freitas
- Departamento de Ciencias Atmosfericas, Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciencias Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Maria de Fatima Andrade
- Departamento de Ciencias Atmosfericas, Instituto de Astronomia, Geofísica e Ciencias Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
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9
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Boonpeng C, Sangiamdee D, Noikrad S, Boonpragob K. Lichen biomonitoring of seasonal outdoor air quality at schools in an industrial city in Thailand. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:59909-59924. [PMID: 37016263 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26685-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Poor air quality in school environments causes adverse health effects in children and decreases their academic performance. The main objective of this study was to use lichens as a biomonitoring tool for assessing outdoor air quality at schools in the industrial area of Laem Chabang municipality in Thailand. Thalli of the lichen Parmotrema tinctorum were transplanted from an unpolluted area to nine schools in the industrial area and to a control site. The lichens were exposed for four periods in the dry, hot, early rainy, and late rainy seasons, for 90 days each. The concentrations of 14 elements, including As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Ti, V, and Zn, were determined using inductively coupled plasma‒mass spectrometry (ICP‒MS), and 8 physiological parameters were measured. The concentrations of all 14 investigated elements were clearly higher at the schools than at the control site. The contamination factors (CFs) suggested that 9 out of the 14 elements, including As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Pb, Sb, and Ti, heavily contaminated the school environments, especially Pb, the concentration of which was 3 to 11 times higher than at the control site. The most polluted time was the hot season as evidenced by the investigated elements, and the least polluted time was the late rainy season. The pollution load indices (PLIs) demonstrated that schools in the inner and middle zones clearly had higher pollution loads than the schools in the outer zone during the rainy seasons, while the hot and dry seasons showed similar pollution levels in all zones. The vitality indices (VIs) showed that the lower lichen vitalities at most schools were observed during the dry season and at the schools in the inner and middle zones. Accordingly, the air performance indices (APIs) revealed that poorer air quality at most schools was found during the dry season and at the schools in the inner and middle zones. This study clearly showed that the transplanted lichen P. tinctorum was an effective bioindicator of air quality in school environments. The results illustrated that all studied schools were contaminated by air pollutants; therefore, improving air quality at the schools is crucial and should be an urgent issue for maintaining good health and may benefit children's academic achievements and careers in the long run.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaiwat Boonpeng
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Hua Mark, Bang Kapi, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand.
- Lichen Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Hua Mark, Bang Kapi, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand.
| | - Duangkamon Sangiamdee
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Hua Mark, Bang Kapi, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand
| | - Sutatip Noikrad
- Lichen Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Hua Mark, Bang Kapi, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand
| | - Kansri Boonpragob
- Lichen Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Hua Mark, Bang Kapi, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand
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Chalvatzaki E, Chatoutsidou SE, Almeida SM, Morawska L, Lazaridis M. The Representativeness of Outdoor Particulate Matter Concentrations for Estimating Personal Dose and Health Risk Assessment of School Children in Lisbon. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20085564. [PMID: 37107846 PMCID: PMC10138915 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the suitability of outdoor particulate matter data obtained from a fixed monitoring station in estimating the personal deposited dose. Outdoor data were retrieved from a station located within the urban area of Lisbon and simulations were performed involving school children. Two scenarios were applied: one where only outdoor data were used assuming an outdoor exposure scenario, and a second one where an actual exposure scenario was adopted using the actual microenvironment during typical school days. Personal PM10 and PM2.5 dose (actual exposure scenario) was 23.4% and 20.2% higher than the ambient (outdoor exposure scenario) PM10 and PM2.5 doses, respectively. The incorporation of the hygroscopic growth in the calculations increased the ambient dose of PM10 and PM2.5 by 8.8% and 21.7%, respectively. Regression analysis between the ambient and personal dose showed no linearity with R2 at 0.07 for PM10 and 0.22 for PM2.5. On the other hand, linear regression between the ambient and school indoor dose showed no linearity (R2 = 0.01) for PM10 but moderate (R2 = 0.48) for PM2.5. These results demonstrate that ambient data must be used with caution for the representativeness of a realistic personal dose of PM2.5 while for PM10 the ambient data cannot be used as a surrogate of a realistic personal dose of school children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftheria Chalvatzaki
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania 73100, Greece; (E.C.); (S.E.C.)
| | - Sofia Eirini Chatoutsidou
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania 73100, Greece; (E.C.); (S.E.C.)
| | - Susana Marta Almeida
- Centro de Ciências Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, Km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
| | - Lidia Morawska
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
| | - Mihalis Lazaridis
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania 73100, Greece; (E.C.); (S.E.C.)
- Correspondence:
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11
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Identification of Indoor Air Quality Factors in Slovenian Schools: National Cross-Sectional Study. Processes (Basel) 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/pr11030841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools is associated with impacts on pupils’ health and learning performance. We aimed to identify the factors that affect IAQ in primary schools. The following objectives were set: (a) to develop a questionnaire to assess the prevalence of factors in primary schools, (b) to conduct content validity of the questionnaire, and (c) to assess the prevalence of factors that affect the IAQ in Slovenian primary schools. Based on the systematic literature review, we developed a new questionnaire to identify factors that affect the IAQ in primary schools and conducted its validation. The questionnaires were sent to all 454 Slovenian primary schools; the response rate was 78.19%. The results show that the most important outdoor factors were the school’s micro location and the distance from potential sources of pollution, particularly traffic. Among the indoor factors, we did not detect a pronounced dominating factor. Our study shows that the spatial location of schools is key to addressing the problem of IAQ in schools.
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Pradhan B, Jayaratne R, Thompson H, Buonanno G, Mazaheri M, Nyarku M, Lin W, Pereira ML, Cyrys J, Peters A, Morawska L. Utility of outdoor central site monitoring in assessing exposure of school children to ultrafine particles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160162. [PMID: 36379336 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies investigating the association between daily particle exposure and health effects are frequently based on a single monitoring site located in an urban background. Using a central site in epidemiological time-series studies has been established based on the premises of low spatial variability of particles within the areas of interest and hence the adequacy of the central sites to monitor the exposure. This is true to a large extent in relation to larger particles (PM2.5, PM10) that are typically monitored and regulated. However, the distribution of ultrafine particles (UFP), which in cities predominantly originate from traffic, is heterogeneous. With increasing pressure to improve the epidemiology of UFP, an important question to ask is, whether central site monitoring is representative of community exposure to this size fraction of particulate matter; addressing this question is the aim of this paper. To achieve this aim, we measured personal exposure to UFP, expressed as particle number concentration (PNC), using Philips Aerasense Nanotracers (NT) carried by the participants of the study, and condensation particle counters (CPC) or scanning mobility particle sizers (SMPS) at central fixed-site monitoring stations. The measurements were conducted at three locations in Brisbane (Australia), Cassino (Italy) and Accra (Ghana). We then used paired t-tests to compare the average personal and average fixed-site PNC measured over the same 24-h, and hourly, periods. We found that, at all three locations, the 24-h average fixed-site PNC was no different to the personal PNC, when averaged over the study period and all the participants. However, the corresponding hourly averages were significantly different at certain times of the day. These were generally times spent commuting and during cooking and eating at home. Our analysis of the data obtained in Brisbane, showed that maximum personal exposure occurred in the home microenvironment during morning breakfast and evening dinner time. The main source of PNC for personal exposure was from the home-microenvironment. We conclude that the 24-h average PNC from the central-site can be used to estimate the 24-h average personal exposure for a community. However, the hourly average PNC from the central site cannot consistently be used to estimate hourly average personal exposure, mainly because they are affected by very different sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basant Pradhan
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Rohan Jayaratne
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Helen Thompson
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Giorgio Buonanno
- Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, Italy
| | - Mandana Mazaheri
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mawutorli Nyarku
- School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Weiwei Lin
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Marcelo Luiz Pereira
- Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Santa Catarina, Department of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Brazil
| | - Josef Cyrys
- Institute of Epidemiology (EPI), Helmholtz Zentrum Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology (EPI), Helmholtz Zentrum Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany; Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Lidia Morawska
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia; Global Centre for Clean Air Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.
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Rawat N, Kumar P. Interventions for improving indoor and outdoor air quality in and around schools. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 858:159813. [PMID: 36411671 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159813] [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: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Students spend nearly one third of their typical day in the school environment, where they may be exposed to harmful air pollutants. A consolidated knowledge base of interventions to reduce this exposure is required for making informed decisions on their implementation and wider uptake. We attempt to fill this knowledge gap by synthesising the existing scientific literature on different school-based air pollution exposure interventions, their efficiency, suitability, and limitations. We assessed technological (air purifiers, HVAC - Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning etc.), behavioural, physical barriers, structural, school-commute and policy and regulatory interventions. Studies suggest that the removal efficiency of air purifiers for PM2.5, PM10, PM1 and BC can be up to 57 %, 34 %, 70 % and 58 %, respectively, depending on the air purification technology compared with control levels in classroom. The HVAC system combined with high efficiency filters has BC, PM10 and PM2.5 removal efficiency up to 97 %, 34 % and 30 %, respectively. Citizen science campaigns are effective in reducing the indoor air pollutants' exposure up to 94 %. The concentration of PM10, NO2, O3, BC and PNC can be reduced by up to 60 %, 59 %, 16 %, 63 % and 77 %, respectively as compared to control conditions, by installing green infrastructure (GI) as a physical barrier. School commute interventions can reduce NO2 concentration by up to 23 %. The in-cabin concentration reduction of up to 77 % for PM2.5, 43 % for PNC, 89 % for BC, 74 % for PM10 and 75 % for NO2, along with 94 % reduction in tailpipe emission of total particles, can be achieved using clean fuels and retrofits. No stand-alone method is found as the absolute solution for controlling pollutants exposure, their combined application can be effective in most of the scenarios. More research is needed on assessing combined interventions, and their operational synchronisation for getting the optimum results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Rawat
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
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Canepari S, Astolfi ML, Drago G, Ruggieri S, Tavormina EE, Cibella F, Perrino C. PM 2.5 elemental composition in indoor residential environments and co-exposure effects on respiratory health in an industrial area. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114630. [PMID: 36279913 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to identify and characterise indoor sources of particulate matter (PM) in domestic environments. 74 inhabited apartments located in the urban area of Gela (Sicily, Italy), close to a refinery, and in three villages of the hinterland were evaluated, in real-world conditions, for the elemental composition of PM2.5. The samples were collected simultaneously inside and outside each apartment for 48 h. In addition, two of the apartments were simultaneously studied for four weeks. The elemental composition of PM2.5 was determined by applying a chemical fractionation procedure followed by inductively-coupled plasma spectrometry analysis, with both optical emission and mass detection. The extractable, more bio-accessible fraction (ext), and the mineralised residual fraction (res) of each element were determined, thus increasing the selectivity of elements as source tracers. Indoor air in the considered apartments was affected by both outdoor pollution and specific indoor emission sources. The behaviour of each source was studied in detail, identifying a reliable tracer: Tires for soil, Asext for industrial sources, Vext for heavy oil combustion, Ce for cigarette smoking and Mo for the use of vacuum dust cleaners. Asext and Vext showed an excellent infiltration capacity, while the concentration of Tires was affected by a low infiltration capacity and by the contribution of particles re-suspension caused by the residents' movements. In the case of Ce and Mo, indoor concentrations were much higher than outdoor with a high variability among the apartments, due to the inhabitants' habits concerning cigarette smoke and use of electric appliances. To test the overall effect of the concomitant exposure to the identified sources on Wh12 M and on DDA, a WQS analysis was conducted. Cigarette smoking and heavily oil combustion driven the Wh12 M odds increase, while the DDA odds increase was mainly driven by heavily oil combustion and the use of vacuum dust cleaners.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Canepari
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy; C.N.R. Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Monterotondo St. (Rome), 00015, Italy.
| | - M L Astolfi
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy.
| | - G Drago
- C.N.R. Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, Palermo, 90146, Italy.
| | - S Ruggieri
- C.N.R. Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, Palermo, 90146, Italy.
| | - E E Tavormina
- C.N.R. Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, Palermo, 90146, Italy.
| | - F Cibella
- C.N.R. Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, Palermo, 90146, Italy.
| | - C Perrino
- C.N.R. Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Monterotondo St. (Rome), 00015, Italy.
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15
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Almeida SM, Faria T, Martins V, Canha N, Diapouli E, Eleftheriadis K, Manousakas MI. Source apportionment of children daily exposure to particulate matter. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 835:155349. [PMID: 35461945 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The present study aims to investigate the sources of particulate pollution in indoor and outdoor environments, with focus on determining their contribution to the exposure of children to airborne particulate matter (PM). To this end, parallel indoor and outdoor measurements were carried out for a selection of 40 homes and 5 schools between September 2017 and October 2018. PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 samples were collected during five days in each microenvironment (ME) and analysed by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), for the determination of elements, and by a thermal-optical technique, for the measurement of organic and elemental carbon. The source apportionment analysis of the PM composition data, by means of the receptor model SoFi (Source Finder) 8 Pro, resulted in the identification of nine sources: exhaust and non-exhaust emissions from traffic, secondary particles, heavy oil combustion, industry, sea salt, soil, city dust, and an indoor source characterized by high levels of organic carbon. Integrated daily exposure to PM2.5 was on average 21 μg/m3. The organic matter, resulting from cleaning, cooking, smoking and biological material, was the major source contributing by 31% to the PM2.5 exposure. The source city dust, which was highly influenced by the resuspension of dust in classrooms, was the second main source (26%), followed by traffic (24%). The major sources affecting the integrated exposure to PM10, which was on average 33 μg/m3, were the city dust (39%), indoor organics (24%) and traffic (16%). This study provides important information for the design of measures to reduce the exposure of children to PM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Marta Almeida
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela-LRS, Portugal.
| | - Tiago Faria
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela-LRS, Portugal
| | - Vânia Martins
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela-LRS, Portugal
| | - Nuno Canha
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela-LRS, Portugal
| | - Evangelia Diapouli
- Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy & Safety, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Eleftheriadis
- Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy & Safety, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece
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16
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Rogula-Kopiec P, Rogula-Kozłowska W, Majewski G. Particulate Matter Concentration in Selected Facilities as an Indicator of Exposure to Their Service Activities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10289. [PMID: 36011921 PMCID: PMC9407963 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the correlation between the concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere and inside buildings has been reported as high. The air inside living quarters and public utility buildings or the interiors of public transport vehicles, as well as the relationship between the internal and external sources of particulate matter (PM) and gaseous pollutants, have underwent sufficient research. On the other hand, non-production rooms, i.e., offices, restaurants, beauty salons, etc. remain very poorly recognized in this respect. For the above reasons, the aim of this work is to determine the difference in the total dust (TSP) and respirable PM (PM4) concentrations in selected rooms, i.e., offices and beauty centers, in relation to their outdoor concentrations. They were measured at six locations in accordance with the standard for the conditions at workplaces by means of PM aspirators. Indoor concentrations of TSP and PM4 were much higher than those in the external surroundings of the facilities. There were no significant relationships between the TSP and PM4 concentrations inside and outside tested rooms. Although the characteristic of the internal PM essentially depends on the characteristics of the external PM migrating to the interior of the premises, considering some types of non-production premises, internal emissions fundamentally changed the characteristics of PM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja Rogula-Kopiec
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 M. Skłodowska-Curie St., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland
| | - Wioletta Rogula-Kozłowska
- Institute of Safety Engineering, The Main School of Fire Service, 52/54 Słowackiego Street, 01-629 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Majewski
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life of Sciences, 166 Nowoursynowska St., 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
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Tracing of Heavy Metals Embedded in Indoor Dust Particles from the Industrial City of Asaluyeh, South of Iran. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137905. [PMID: 35805563 PMCID: PMC9265302 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Assessment of indoor air quality is especially important, since people spend substantial amounts of time indoors, either at home or at work. This study analyzes concentrations of selected heavy metals in 40 indoor dust samples obtained from houses in the highly-industrialized Asaluyeh city, south Iran in spring and summer seasons (20 samples each). Furthermore, the health risk due to exposure to indoor air pollution is investigated for both children and adults, in a city with several oil refineries and petrochemical industries. The chemical analysis revealed that in both seasons the concentrations of heavy metals followed the order of Cr > Ni > Pb > As > Co > Cd. A significant difference was observed in the concentrations of potential toxic elements (PTEs) such as Cr, As and Ni, since the mean (±stdev) summer levels were at 60.2 ± 9.1 mg kg−1, 5.6 ± 2.7 mg kg−1 and 16.4 ± 1.9 mg kg−1, respectively, while the concentrations were significantly lower in spring (17.6 ± 9.7 mg kg−1, 3.0 ± 1.7 mg kg−1 and 13.5 ± 2.4 mg kg−1 for Cr, As and Ni, respectively). Although the hazard index (HI) values, which denote the possibility of non-carcinogenic risk due to exposure to household heavy metals, were generally low for both children and adults (HI < 1), the carcinogenic risks of arsenic and chromium were found to be above the safe limit of 1 × 10−4 for children through the ingestion pathway, indicating a high cancer risk due to household dust in Asaluyeh, especially in summer.
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Fang M, Liao Z, Ji X, Zhu X, Wang Z, Lu C, Shi C, Chen Z, Ge L, Zhang M, Dahlgren RA, Shang X. Microplastic ingestion from atmospheric deposition during dining/drinking activities. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 432:128674. [PMID: 35299106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Human-health risks from microplastics have attracted considerable attention, but little is known about human-exposure pathways and intensities. Recent studies posited that inhalation of atmospheric microplastics was the dominant human-exposure pathway. Herein, our study identified that atmospheric microplastics ingested from deposition during routine dining/drinking activities represent another important exposure pathway. We measured abundances of atmospheric-deposited microplastics of up to 105 items m-2 d-1 in dining/drinking venues, with 90% smaller than 100 µm and a dominance of amorphous fragments rather than fibers. Typical work-life scenarios projected an annual ingestion of 1.9 × 105 to 1.3 × 106 microplastics through atmospheric deposition on diet, with higher exposure rates for indoor versus outdoor dining/drinking settings. Ingestion of atmospheric-deposited microplastics through diet was similar in magnitude to presumed inhalation exposure, but 2-3 orders of magnitude greater than direct ingestion from food sources. Simple mitigation strategies (e.g., covering and rinsing dishware) can substantially reduce the exposure of atmospheric deposition microplastics through diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Fang
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health of Zhejiang Province, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Zhonglu Liao
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health of Zhejiang Province, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Xiaoliang Ji
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health of Zhejiang Province, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Xuan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health of Zhejiang Province, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Zhenfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health of Zhejiang Province, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Changjie Lu
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health of Zhejiang Province, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Chenwei Shi
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health of Zhejiang Province, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Zheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health of Zhejiang Province, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Liyun Ge
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health of Zhejiang Province, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
| | - Minghua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health of Zhejiang Province, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China; Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Randy A Dahlgren
- Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Xu Shang
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Sciences and Health of Zhejiang Province, School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
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Faria T, Cunha-Lopes I, Pilou M, Housiadas C, Querol X, Alves C, Almeida SM. Children's exposure to size-fractioned particulate matter: Chemical composition and internal dose. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 823:153745. [PMID: 35150685 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The health effects of the particulate matter (PM) depend not only on its aerodynamic diameter (AD) and chemical composition, but also on the time activity pattern of the individuals and on their age. The main objective of this work was to assess the exposure of children to aerosol particles by using personal instruments, to study the particle size and composition of the inhaled PM, and to estimate their transport and deposition into the human respiratory tract (HRT). The average daily PM2.5 exposure was 19 μg/m3 and the size fractions with the greatest contribution to PM2.5 concentrations were 1 < AD <2.5 μm and AD <0.25 μm. Results indicated a contribution of 9% from the mineral aerosol, 7.2% from anthropogenic sulphate, 6.7% from black carbon and 5% from anthropogenic trace elements to the daily exposure to PM2.5. The levels of mineral and marine elements increased with increasing particle size, while anthropogenic elements were present in higher concentrations in the finest particles. Particle size has been shown to influence the variability of daily dose deposited between the extrathoracic and alveolar-interstitial zones. On average, 3% of the PM deposited in the bronchial region, whereas 5% to 8% were found in the bronchiolar region. The level of physical activity had a significant contribution to the total daily dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Faria
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - I Cunha-Lopes
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M Pilou
- Thermal Hydraulics & Multiphase Flow Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Science & Technology, Energy & Safety, NCSR "DEMOKRITOS", Athens, Greece
| | - C Housiadas
- Thermal Hydraulics & Multiphase Flow Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Science & Technology, Energy & Safety, NCSR "DEMOKRITOS", Athens, Greece
| | - X Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spanish Research Council, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - C Alves
- Department of Environment, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - S M Almeida
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
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20
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Foraster M, Esnaola M, López-Vicente M, Rivas I, Álvarez-Pedrerol M, Persavento C, Sebastian-Galles N, Pujol J, Dadvand P, Sunyer J. Exposure to road traffic noise and cognitive development in schoolchildren in Barcelona, Spain: A population-based cohort study. PLoS Med 2022; 19:e1004001. [PMID: 35653430 PMCID: PMC9162347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Road traffic noise is a prevalent and known health hazard. However, little is known yet about its effect on children's cognition. We aimed to study the association between exposure to road traffic noise and the development of working memory and attention in primary school children, considering school-outdoor and school-indoor annual average noise levels and noise fluctuation characteristics, as well as home-outdoor noise exposure. METHODS AND FINDINGS We followed up a population-based sample of 2,680 children aged 7 to 10 years from 38 schools in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) between January 2012 to March 2013. Children underwent computerised cognitive tests 4 times (n = 10,112), for working memory (2-back task, detectability), complex working memory (3-back task, detectability), and inattentiveness (Attention Network Task, hit reaction time standard error, in milliseconds). Road traffic noise was measured indoors and outdoors at schools, at the start of the school year, using standard protocols to obtain A-weighted equivalent sound pressure levels, i.e., annual average levels scaled to human hearing, for the daytime (daytime LAeq, in dB). We also derived fluctuation indicators out of the measurements (noise intermittency ratio, %; and number of noise events) and obtained individual estimated indoor noise levels (LAeq) correcting for classroom orientation and classroom change between years. Home-outdoor noise exposure at home (Lden, i.e., EU indicator for the 24-hour annual average levels) was estimated using Barcelona's noise map for year 2012, according to the European Noise Directive (2002). We used linear mixed models to evaluate the association between exposure to noise and cognitive development adjusting for age, sex, maternal education, socioeconomical vulnerability index at home, indoor or outdoor traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) for corresponding school models or outdoor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for home models. Child and school were included as nested random effects. The median age (percentile 25, percentile 75) of children in visit 1 was 8.5 (7.8; 9.3) years, 49.9% were girls, and 50% of the schools were public. School-outdoor exposure to road traffic noise was associated with a slower development in working memory (2-back and 3-back) and greater inattentiveness over 1 year in children, both for the average noise level (e.g., ‒4.83 points [95% CI: ‒7.21, ‒2.45], p-value < 0.001, in 2-back detectability per 5 dB in street levels) and noise fluctuation (e.g., ‒4.38 [‒7.08, ‒1.67], p-value = 0.002, per 50 noise events at street level). Individual exposure to the road traffic average noise level in classrooms was only associated with inattentiveness (2.49 ms [0, 4.81], p-value = 0.050, per 5 dB), whereas indoor noise fluctuation was consistently associated with all outcomes. Home-outdoor noise exposure was not associated with the outcomes. Study limitations include a potential lack of generalizability (58% of mothers with university degree in our study versus 50% in the region) and the lack of past noise exposure assessment. CONCLUSIONS We observed that exposure to road traffic noise at school, but not at home, was associated with slower development of working memory, complex working memory, and attention in schoolchildren over 1 year. Associations with noise fluctuation indicators were more evident than with average noise levels in classrooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Foraster
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
- PHAGEX Research Group, Blanquerna School of Health Science, Universitat Ramon Llull (URL), Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Mikel Esnaola
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mónica López-Vicente
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ioar Rivas
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Álvarez-Pedrerol
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cecilia Persavento
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Jesus Pujol
- MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Payam Dadvand
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBEREsp), Madrid, Spain
- IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
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21
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Faria T, Martins V, Canha N, Diapouli E, Manousakas M, Fetfatzis P, Gini MI, Almeida SM. Assessment of children's exposure to carbonaceous matter and to PM major and trace elements. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 807:151021. [PMID: 34662608 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151021] [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: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) pollution is one of the major environmental concerns due to its harmful effects on human health. As children are particularly vulnerable to particle exposure, this study integrates the concentration of PM chemical compounds measured in the micro-environments (MEs) where children spend most of their time to assess the daily exposure and inhaled dose. PM samples were analysed for organic and elemental carbon and for major and trace elements. Results showed that the MEs that contribute most to the children's daily exposure (80%) and inhaled dose (65%) were homes and schools. Results indicated that the high contribution of particulate organic matter (POM) indoors indicate high contributions of indoor sources to the organic fraction of the particles. The highest concentrations of PM chemical compounds and the highest Indoor/Outdoor ratios were measured in schools, where the contribution of mineral elements stands out due to the resuspension of dust caused by the students and to the chalk used in blackboards. The contribution of the outdoor particles to inhaled dose (24%) was higher than to the exposure (12%), due to the highest inhalation rates associated with the activities performed outdoor. This study indicates the importance of indoor air quality for the children's exposure and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Faria
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C2TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, Km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal.
| | - V Martins
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C2TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, Km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
| | - N Canha
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C2TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, Km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
| | - E Diapouli
- Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, N.C.S.R. Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, Attiki, Greece
| | - M Manousakas
- Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, N.C.S.R. Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, Attiki, Greece
| | - P Fetfatzis
- Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, N.C.S.R. Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, Attiki, Greece
| | - M I Gini
- Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy and Safety, N.C.S.R. Demokritos, Agia Paraskevi, Attiki, Greece
| | - S M Almeida
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares (C2TN), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, Km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
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22
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Xie Y, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Fan W, Dong Z, Yin P, Zhou M. Substantial health benefits of strengthening guidelines on indoor fine particulate matter in China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 160:107082. [PMID: 35033735 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107082] [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: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In 2020, China for the first time developed guidelines for indoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the draft document of indoor air standards, while the associated health implication remains unclear. Here, we first estimated the PM2.5 associated premature deaths was 965 thousand in 2019, with the indoor PM2.5 of outdoor origin accounting for 72.9%. Then, we examined the dynamic mortalities under a scenario matrix of 36 conditions, by incorporating various shared socioeconomic pathways in 2035, the draft guidelines and the contributions of ambient PM2.5 to indoor exposure. Although it may be improbable, the averages of premature deaths associated with ambient PM2.5 will be 1018-1361 thousand in 2035 when the worst-case scenario of guidelines mandating a yearly (rather than daily) indoor PM2.5 concentration of 75 µg/m3, compared to the averages of estimation were 816-1304 thousand for better-case scenario of 35 µg/m3. Under these scenarios, the increase in the number of premature deaths was mainly driven by population aging. In 2035, an ambitious target of yearly indoor PM2.5 concentrations of 15 µg/m3 is anticipated to reduce the number of deaths associated with ambient PM2.5 by approximately 25% of the 2019 baseline. Stricter guidelines to restrict the indoor PM2.5 concentrations are recommended to mitigate the mortality risk in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xie
- School of Economics and Management, Beihang University, Beijing, China; Laboratory for Low-carbon Intelligent Governance, Beihang University, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China; School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Yichi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Water Cycle and Related Land Surface Processes, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Wenhong Fan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China; School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaomin Dong
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China; School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, Beijing, China.
| | - Peng Yin
- National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Maigeng Zhou
- National Center for Chronic and Noncommunicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
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23
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Exposure of Malaysian Children to Air Pollutants over the School Day. URBAN SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/urbansci6010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Children are sensitive to air pollution and spend long hours in and around their schools, so the school day has an important impact on their overall exposure. This study of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and its surroundings assesses exposure to PM2.5 and NO2, from travel, play and study over a typical school day. Most Malaysian children in urban areas are driven to school, so they probably experience peak NO2 concentrations in the drop-off and pick-up zones. Cyclists are likely to receive the greatest school travel exposure during their commute, but typically, the largest cumulative exposure occurs in classrooms through the long school day. Indoor concentrations tend to be high, as classrooms are well ventilated with ambient air. Exposure to PM2.5 is relatively evenly spread across Selangor, but NO2 exposure tends to be higher in areas with a high population density and heavy traffic. Despite this, ambient PM2.5 may be more critical and exceed guidelines as it is a particular problem during periods of widespread biomass burning. A thoughtful adjustment to school approach roads, design of playgrounds and building layout and maintenance may help minimise exposure.
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24
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Kitagawa YKL, Kumar P, Galvão ES, Santos JM, Reis NC, Nascimento EGS, Moreira DM. Exposure and dose assessment of school children to air pollutants in a tropical coastal-urban area. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 803:149747. [PMID: 34487895 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149747] [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: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study estimates exposure and inhaled dose to air pollutants of children residing in a tropical coastal-urban area in Southeast Brazil. For that, twenty-one children filled their time-activities diaries and wore the passive samplers to monitor NO2. The personal exposure was also estimated using data provided by the combination of WRF-Urban/GEOS-Chem/CMAQ models, and the nearby monitoring station. Indoor/outdoor ratios were used to consider the amount of time spent indoors by children in homes and schools. The model's performance was assessed by comparing the modelled data with concentrations measured by urban monitoring stations. A sensitivity analyses was also performed to evaluate the impact of the model's height on the air pollutant concentrations. The results showed that the mean children's personal exposure to NO2 predicted by the model (22.3 μg/m3) was nearly twice to those measured by the passive samplers (12.3 μg/m3). In contrast, the nearest urban monitoring station did not represent the personal exposure to NO2 (9.3 μg/m3), suggesting a bias in the quantification of previous epidemiological studies. The building effect parameterisation (BEP) together with the lowering of the model height enhanced the air pollutant concentrations and the exposure of children to air pollutants. With the use of the CMAQ model, exposure to O3, PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 was also estimated and revealed that the daily children's personal exposure was 13.4, 38.9, 32.9, and 9.6 μg/m3, respectively. Meanwhile, the potential inhalation daily dose was 570-667 μg for PM2.5, 684-789 μg for PM10, and 163-194 μg for PM1, showing to be favourable to cause adverse health effects. The exposure of children to air pollutants estimated by the numerical model in this work was comparable to other studies found in the literature, showing one of the advantages of using the modelling approach since some air pollutants are poorly spatially represented and/or are not routinely monitored by environmental agencies in many regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Kaore Lago Kitagawa
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil; Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, Surrey, United Kingdom; Centro Integrado de Manufatura e Tecnologia (SENAI CIMATEC), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Elson Silva Galvão
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Jane Meri Santos
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Neyval Costa Reis
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | | | - Davidson Martins Moreira
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil; Centro Integrado de Manufatura e Tecnologia (SENAI CIMATEC), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
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25
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Requia WJ, Kill E, Amini H. Proximity of schools to roads and students' academic performance: A cross-sectional study in the Federal District, Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 202:111770. [PMID: 34331926 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Investigations of the educational implications of children's exposure to air pollutants at school are crucial to enhance our understanding of the hazards for children. Most of the existing literature is based on studies performed in North America and Europe. Further investigation is required in low- and middle-income countries, where there are important challenges related to public health, transportation, environment, and education sector. In response, in this present study, we studied the association between proximity of schools to roads and the academic achievement of the students in the Federal District, Brazil. We accessed academic achievement data at the student level. The data consist of 256 schools (all the public schools in the FD) and a total of 344,175 students (all the students enrolled in the public schools in the FD in 2017-2020). We analyzed the association between the length of all roads within buffers around schools and student-level academic performance using mixed-effects regression models. After adjustments for several covariates, the results of the primary analysis indicate that the presence of roads surrounding schools is negatively associated with student-level academic performance in the FD. This association varies significantly depending on the buffer size surrounding schools. We found that the highest effects occur in the first buffer, with 250 m. While in the first buffer we estimated that an increase of 1 km of length of roads around schools was associated with a statistically significant decrease of 0.011 (95%CI: 0.008; 0.013) points in students' grades (students' academic performance varies from 0 to 10), in the buffer of 1 km we found a decrease of 0.002 (95%CI: 0.002; 0.002) points in the student-level academic performance. Findings from our investigation provide support for the creation of effective health, educational and urban planning policies for local intervention in the FD. This is essential to improve the environmental quality surrounding schools to protect children from exposure to environmental hazards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weeberb J Requia
- School of Public Policy and Government, Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Distrito Federal, Brasília, Brazil.
| | - Erick Kill
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Heresh Amini
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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26
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Lai A, Baumgartner J, Schauer JJ, Rudich Y, Pardo M. Cytotoxicity and chemical composition of women's personal PM 2.5 exposures from rural China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE: ATMOSPHERES 2021; 1:359-371. [PMID: 34604754 PMCID: PMC8459644 DOI: 10.1039/d1ea00022e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Personal exposure PM samples aid in determining the sources and chemical composition of real-world exposures, particularly in settings with household air pollution. However, their use in toxicological research is limited, despite uncertainty regarding health effects in these settings and evidence of differential toxicity among PM2.5 sources and components. This study used women's PM2.5 exposure samples collected using personal exposure monitoring in rural villages in three Chinese provinces (Beijing, Shanxi, and Sichuan) during summer and winter. Water-soluble organic carbon, ions, elements, and organic tracers (e.g. levoglucosan and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs]) were quantified in water and organic PM2.5 extracts. Human lung epithelial cells (A549) were exposed to the extracts. Cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and gene expression were measured. Biomass burning contributions were higher in Sichuan samples than in Beijing or Shanxi. Some PM characteristics (total PAHs and coal combustion source contributions) and biological effects of organic extract exposures (cell death, ROS, and cytokine gene expression) shared a common trend of higher levels and effects in winter than in summer for Shanxi and Beijing but no seasonal differences in Sichuan. Modulation of phase I/AhR-related genes (cyp1a1 and cyp1b1) and phase II/oxidative stress-related genes (HO-1, SOD1/2, NQO-1, and catalase) was either low or insignificant, without clear trends between samples. No significant cell death or ROS production was observed for water extract treatments among all sites and seasons, even at possible higher concentrations tested. These results support organic components, particularly PAHs, as essential drivers of biological effects, which is consistent with some other evidence from ambient PM2.5. Direct measurement with personal samplers captures the chemical complexity of PM2.5 exposures better than fixed monitors. To investigate biological effects, lung cells were exposed to extracts of exposure PM2.5 samples.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Lai
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot Israel
| | - Jill Baumgartner
- Institute for Health and Social Policy, Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University Montreal Quebec Canada
| | - James J Schauer
- Environmental Chemistry & Technology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison WI USA
| | - Yinon Rudich
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot Israel
| | - Michal Pardo
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot Israel
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27
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Challenges of a Healthy Built Environment: Air Pollution in Construction Industry. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su131810469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Air pollution is a global concern, especially in cities and urban areas, and has many implications for human health and for the environment. In common with other industrial sectors, the construction industry emits air pollutants. In scientific literature, the contribution the construction industry makes to air pollution is underexposed. This systematic literature review (SLR) paper gives an overview of the current literature regarding air pollution within the construction industry. Air pollution is discussed focusing mainly on three levels: (i) buildings and their building life cycle stages, (ii) construction processes and components, and (iii) building material and interior. The final sample of the SLR comprises 161 scientific articles addressing different aspects of the construction industry. The results show that most articles address the use stage of a building. Particulate matter in different sizes is the most frequently examined air pollutant within the SLR. Moreover, about a third of the articles refer to indoor air pollution, which shows the relevance of the topic. The construction industry can help to develop a healthier built environment and support the achievement of cleaner air within various life cycle stages, e.g., with optimized construction processes and healthier materials. International agreements and policies such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can support the sustainable development of the construction industry.
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28
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Puławska A, Manecki M, Flasza M, Styszko K. Origin, distribution, and perspective health benefits of particulate matter in the air of underground salt mine: a case study from Bochnia, Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2021; 43:3533-3556. [PMID: 33575968 PMCID: PMC8405481 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-00832-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The composition and distribution of airborne particles in different locations in a salt mine were determined in terms of their origin, the distance from the air inlet, and the adaptation of post-mining chambers and corridors for tourists and general audience. The composition of aerosols in air was also evaluated from the perspective of human health. Air samples were collected on filters by using portable air pumps, in a historical underground salt mine in Bochnia (Poland), which is currently a touristic and recreation attraction and sanatorium. The particulate matter (PM) concentration was determined using the gravimetric method by weighing quartz filters. The content of carbon, water-soluble constituents, trace elements, and minerals was also determined. A genetic classification of the suspended matter was proposed and comprised three groups: geogenic (fragments of rock salt and associated minerals from the deposit), anthropogenic (carbon-bearing particles from tourist traffic and small amounts of fly ash, soot, and rust), and biogenic particles (occasional pollen). The total PM concentration in air varied between 21 and 79 μg/m3 (with PM4 constituting 4-24 μg/m3). The amount of atmospheric dust components coming from the surface was low and decreased with the distance from the intake shaft, thus indicating the self-cleaning process. NaCl dominated the water-soluble constituents, while Fe, Al, Ag, Mn, and Zn dominated the trace elements, with the concentration of majority of them below 30 ng/m3. These metals are released into air from both natural sources and the wear or/and corrosion of mining and tourists facilities in the underground functional space. No potentially toxic elements or constituents were detected. The presence of salt particles and salty spray in the atmosphere of salt mine, which may have anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties, is beneficial to human health. This study will allow for a broader look at the potential of halotherapy in underground salt mines from a medical and regulatory point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Puławska
- Department of Mineralogy, Petrography and Geochemistry, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059, Kraków, Poland.
- Bochnia Salt Mine, ul. Campi 15, 32-700, Bochnia, Poland.
| | - Maciej Manecki
- Department of Mineralogy, Petrography and Geochemistry, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059, Kraków, Poland
| | - Michał Flasza
- KGHM CUPRUM Ltd. R&D Centre, ul. Sikorskiego 2-8, 53-659, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Styszko
- Department of Coal Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059, Kraków, Poland
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Korhonen A, Relvas H, Miranda AI, Ferreira J, Lopes D, Rafael S, Almeida SM, Faria T, Martins V, Canha N, Diapouli E, Eleftheriadis K, Chalvatzaki E, Lazaridis M, Lehtomäki H, Rumrich I, Hänninen O. Analysis of spatial factors, time-activity and infiltration on outdoor generated PM 2.5 exposures of school children in five European cities. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 785:147111. [PMID: 33940420 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric particles are a major environmental health risk. Assessments of air pollution related health burden are often based on outdoor concentrations estimated at residential locations, ignoring spatial mobility, time-activity patterns, and indoor exposures. The aim of this work is to quantify impacts of these factors on outdoor-originated fine particle exposures of school children. We apply nested WRF-CAMx modelling of PM2.5 concentrations, gridded population, and school location data. Infiltration and enrichment factors were collected and applied to Athens, Kuopio, Lisbon, Porto, and Treviso. Exposures of school children were calculated for residential and school outdoor and indoor, other indoor, and traffic microenvironments. Combined with time-activity patterns six exposure models were created. Model complexity was increased incrementally starting from residential and school outdoor exposures. Even though levels in traffic and outdoors were considerably higher, 80-84% of the exposure to outdoor particles occurred in indoor environments. The simplest and also commonly used approach of using residential outdoor concentrations as population exposure descriptor (model 1), led on average to 26% higher estimates (15.7 μg/m3) compared with the most complex model (# 6) including home and school outdoor and indoor, other indoor and traffic microenvironments (12.5 μg/m3). These results emphasize the importance of including spatial mobility, time-activity and infiltration to reduce bias in exposure estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antti Korhonen
- Department of Public Health Solutions, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 70701 Kuopio, Finland; Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70701 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Hélder Relvas
- CESAM, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana Isabel Miranda
- CESAM, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana Ferreira
- CESAM, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Diogo Lopes
- CESAM, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sandra Rafael
- CESAM, Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Susana Marta Almeida
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Bobadela, Portugal
| | - Tiago Faria
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Bobadela, Portugal
| | - Vânia Martins
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Bobadela, Portugal
| | - Nuno Canha
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Bobadela, Portugal
| | - Evangelia Diapouli
- Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, N.C.S.R. "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Eleftheriadis
- Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, N.C.S.R. "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece
| | - Eleftheria Chalvatzaki
- School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece
| | - Mihalis Lazaridis
- School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100 Chania, Greece
| | - Heli Lehtomäki
- Department of Public Health Solutions, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 70701 Kuopio, Finland; Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland (UEF), 70701 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Isabell Rumrich
- Department of Public Health Solutions, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 70701 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Otto Hänninen
- Department of Public Health Solutions, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 70701 Kuopio, Finland
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Heo S, Kim DY, Kwoun Y, Lee TJ, Jo YM. Characterization and source identification of fine dust in Seoul elementary school classrooms. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 414:125531. [PMID: 33676257 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate the level of fine particulate matters in elementary schools located in a high traffic area of Seoul and verify the emission source, a field study on the classrooms was conducted under the uncontrolled condition. The indoor PM2.5 was lower than that of the outdoors as indicated by an I/O ratio of 0.52-0.92 based on mass concentration, and it was maintained below the National Guideline. Heavy metals such as Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sn and Pb were lower in indoor PM2.5 than outdoors. On the contrary, carbons including OC and EC were higher in indoor PM2.5. As a result of source apportionment analysis, an outdoor emission source was responsible for 58.5% of the classroom PM2.5. This study can contribute to urban planning and school design to keep children safe from harmful environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujeong Heo
- Department of Applied Environmental Science, Center for Environmental Fine Dust Research, Kyung Hee University, 17104, South Korea
| | - Do Yoon Kim
- Department of Applied Environmental Science, Center for Environmental Fine Dust Research, Kyung Hee University, 17104, South Korea
| | - Yerim Kwoun
- Department of Applied Environmental Science, Center for Environmental Fine Dust Research, Kyung Hee University, 17104, South Korea
| | - Tae Jung Lee
- Department of Applied Environmental Science, Center for Environmental Fine Dust Research, Kyung Hee University, 17104, South Korea
| | - Young Min Jo
- Department of Applied Environmental Science, Center for Environmental Fine Dust Research, Kyung Hee University, 17104, South Korea.
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Fermo P, Artíñano B, De Gennaro G, Pantaleo AM, Parente A, Battaglia F, Colicino E, Di Tanna G, Goncalves da Silva Junior A, Pereira IG, Garcia GS, Garcia Goncalves LM, Comite V, Miani A. Improving indoor air quality through an air purifier able to reduce aerosol particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Experimental results. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 197:111131. [PMID: 33865819 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The adverse effects of fine particulate matter (PM) and many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on human health are well known. Fine particles are, in fact, those most capable of penetrating in depth into the respiratory system. People spend most of their time indoors where concentrations of some pollutants are sometimes higher than outdoors. Therefore, there is the need to ensure a healthy indoor environment and for this purpose the use of an air purifier can be a valuable aid especially now since it was demonstrated that indoor air quality has a high impact on spreading of viral infections such as that due to SARS-COVID19. In this study, we tested a commercial system that can be used as an air purifier. In particular it was verified its efficiency in reducing concentrations of PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm), PM2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm), PM1 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 1 μm), and particles number in the range 0.3 μm-10 μm. Furthermore, its capacity in reducing VOCs concentration was also checked. PM measurements were carried out by means of a portable optical particle counter (OPC) instrument simulating the working conditions typical of a household environment. In particular we showed that the tested air purifier significantly reduced both PM10 and PM2.5 by 16.8 and 7.25 times respectively that corresponds to a reduction of about 90% and 80%. A clear reduction of VOCs concentrations was also observed since a decrease of over 50% of these gaseous substances was achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Fermo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy; Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, (SIMA), Milan, 20123, Italy.
| | - Begoña Artíñano
- Centre for Energy, Environment and Technologies (CIEMAT), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gianluigi De Gennaro
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, (SIMA), Milan, 20123, Italy; Department of Biology, University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Parente
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | | | | | - Gianluca Di Tanna
- The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | - Valeria Comite
- Department of Chemistry, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, (SIMA), Milan, 20123, Italy; Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Osborne S, Uche O, Mitsakou C, Exley K, Dimitroulopoulou S. Air quality around schools: Part I - A comprehensive literature review across high-income countries. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 196:110817. [PMID: 33524334 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Children are particularly vulnerable to the detrimental health impacts of poor air quality. In the UK, recent initiatives at local council level have focussed on mitigating children's air pollution exposure at school. However, an overview of the available evidence on concentration and exposure in school environments - and a summary of key knowledge gaps - has so far been lacking. To address this, we conducted a review bringing together recent academic and grey literature, relating to air quality in outdoor school environments - including playgrounds, drop-off zones, and the school commute - across high-income countries. We aimed to critically assess, synthesise, and categorise the available literature, to produce recommendations on future research and mitigating actions. Our searches initially identified 883 articles of interest, which were filtered down in screening and appraisal to a final total of 100 for inclusion. Many of the included studies focussed on nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter (PM) in both the coarse and fine fractions, around schools across a range of countries. Some studies also observed ozone (O3) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) outside schools. Our review identified evidence that children can encounter pollution peaks on the school journey, at school gates, and in school playgrounds; that nearby traffic is a key determinant of concentrations outside schools; and that factors relating to planning and urban design - such as the type of playground paving, and amount of surrounding green space - can influence school site concentrations. The review also outlines evidence gaps that can be targeted in future research. These include the need for more personal monitoring studies that distinguish between the exposure that takes place indoors and outdoors at school, and a need for a greater number of studies that conduct before-after evaluation of local interventions designed to mitigate children's exposure, such as green barriers and road closures. Finally, our review also proposes some tangible recommendations for policymakers and local leaders. The creation of clean air zones around schools; greening of school grounds; careful selection of new school sites; promotion of active travel to and from school; avoidance of major roads on the school commute; and scheduling of outdoor learning and play away from peak traffic hours, are all advocated by the evidence collated in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Osborne
- Air Quality & Public Health Group, Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Onyekachi Uche
- Air Quality & Public Health Group, Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Christina Mitsakou
- Air Quality & Public Health Group, Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Karen Exley
- Air Quality & Public Health Group, Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Sani Dimitroulopoulou
- Air Quality & Public Health Group, Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, UK.
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Seasonal Variations in the Chemical Composition of Indoor and Outdoor PM10 in University Classrooms. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13042263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In the VIEPI project (Integrated evaluation of the exposure to indoor particulate matter) framework, we carried out a 1-year study of the concentration and chemical composition of particulate matter (PM) in a 5 story building in the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy). Each sampling had a duration of 1 month and was carried out indoors and outdoors in six classrooms. The chemical analyses were grouped to obtain information about the main PM sources. Micro-elements in their soluble and insoluble fractions were used to trace additional sources. Indoor PM composition was dominated by soil components and, to a lesser extent, by the organics, which substantially increased when people crowded the sites. The penetration of PM components was regulated by their chemical nature and by the dimensions of the particles in which they were contained. For the first time in crowded indoor environments, three different chemical assays aimed to determine PM redox properties complemented chemical composition measurements. These preliminary tests showed that substantially different redox properties characterised atmospheric particles in indoor and outdoor sites. The innovative characteristics of this study (time duration, number of considered environments) were essential to obtain relevant information about PM composition and sources in indoor academic environments and the occupants’ role.
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PM 2.5 and Trace Elements in Underground Shopping Districts in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, Korea. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18010297. [PMID: 33401562 PMCID: PMC7795881 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18010297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We measured PM2.5 in 41 underground shopping districts (USDs) in the Seoul metropolitan area from June to November 2017, and associated 18 trace elements to determine the sources and assess the respiratory risks. The PM2.5 concentrations were 18.0 ± 8.0 μg/m3 inside USDs, which were lower than 25.2 ± 10.6 μg/m3 outside. We identified five sources such as indoor miscellanea, soil dust, vehicle exhaust/cooking, coal combustion, and road/subway dust, using factor analysis. Almost 67% of the total trace element concentration resulted from soil dust. Soil dust contribution increased with the number of stores because of fugitive dust emissions due to an increase in passers-by. Vehicle exhaust/cooking contribution was higher when the entrances of the USDs were closed, whereas coal combustion contribution was higher when the entrances of the USDs were open. Although miscellanea and coal combustion contributions were 3.4% and 0.7%, respectively, among five elements with cancer risk, Cr and Ni were included in miscellanea, and Pb, Cd, and As were included in coal combustion. The excess cancer risk (ECR) was the highest at 67 × 10-6 for Cr, and the ECR for Pb was lower than 10-6, a goal of the United States Environmental Protection Agency for hazardous air pollutants.
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35
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Das S, Chellam S. Estimating light-duty vehicles' contributions to ambient PM 2.5 and PM 10 at a near-highway urban elementary school via elemental characterization emphasizing rhodium, palladium, and platinum. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 747:141268. [PMID: 32799023 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The primary objective of this research is to accurately estimate light-duty vehicles' (LDVs') emissions of PM2.5 and PM10 over the course of a year within the property line of an inner-city school located adjacent to a heavily-trafficked interstate highway by measuring platinum group elements (PGEs - Rh, Pd, and Pt) along with 49 other major and trace elements. Amongst PGEs, ambient Pd concentrations were the highest, averaging 11 pg/m3 in PM10 and 4.0 pg/m3 in PM2.5 followed by Pt (3.5 pg/m3 in PM10 and 1.4 pg/m3 in PM2.5), and Rh (1.6 pg/m3 in PM10 and 0.52 pg/m3 in PM2.5). Simultaneous three-component variations in Rh, Pd, and Pt in both PM size classes at this surface site closely matched the composition of (i) a mixed random lot of recycled autocatalysts obtained from numerous LDVs and (ii) PM inside a proximal underwater tunnel open only to light-duty vehicles. Additionally, quantitative estimates of LDV contributions to ambient PM calculated by chemical mass balance modeling (CMB) were strongly correlated with PGE abundances. Therefore, PGEs predominantly originated from gasoline-driven motor vehicles validating them as unique LDV tracers. Further, CMB estimated that vehicles contributed 37% on average (12-67%) to PM10 and 49% on average (25-73%) to PM2.5. Evidence is also presented for a subset of other trace metals; i.e. Cu, As, Mo, Cd, and Sb to also be relatively strong LDV tracers. Results highlight the importance of measuring PGEs in addition to numerous other elements in PM to accurately apportion aerosols emanating from LDVs, which will better isolate public health and environmental impacts associated with the transportation sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Das
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
| | - Shankararaman Chellam
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America; Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, United States of America.
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36
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Branco PTBS, Alvim-Ferraz MCM, Martins FG, Ferraz C, Vaz LG, Sousa SIV. Impact of indoor air pollution in nursery and primary schools on childhood asthma. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 745:140982. [PMID: 32736106 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Poor indoor air quality in scholar environments have been frequently reported, but its impact on respiratory health in schoolchildren has not been sufficiently explored. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the associations between children's exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP) in nursery and primary schools and childhood asthma. Multivariate models (independent and multipollutant) quantified the associations of children's exposure with asthma-related health outcomes: reported active wheezing, reported and diagnosed asthma, and lung function (reduced FEV1/FVC and reduced FEV1). A microenvironmental modelling approach estimated individual inhaled exposure to major indoor air pollutants (CO2, CO, formaldehyde, NO2, O3, TVOC, PM2.5 and PM10) in nursery and primary schools from both urban and rural sites in northern Portugal. Questionnaires and medical tests (spirometry pre- and post-bronchodilator) were used to obtain information on health outcomes and to diagnose asthma following the newest international clinical guidelines. After testing children for aeroallergen sensitisation, multinomial models estimated the effect of exposure to particulate matter on asthma in sensitised individuals. The study population were 1530 children attending nursery and primary schools, respectively 648 pre-schoolers (3-5 years old) and 882 primary school children (6-10 years old). This study found no evidence of a significant association between IAP in nursery and primary schools and the prevalence of childhood asthma. However, reported active wheezing was associated with higher NO2, and reduced FEV1 was associated with higher O3 and PM2.5, despite NO2 and O3 in schools were always below the 200 μg m-3 threshold from WHO and National legislation, respectively. Moreover, sensitised children to common aeroallergens were more likely to have asthma during childhood when exposed to particulate matter in schools. These findings support the urgent need for mitigation measures to reduce IAP in schools, reducing its burden to children's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro T B S Branco
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria C M Alvim-Ferraz
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando G Martins
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Catarina Ferraz
- Departamento de Pediatria (UAG-MC), Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João (CHUSJ), Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luísa G Vaz
- Departamento de Pediatria (UAG-MC), Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João (CHUSJ), Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia I V Sousa
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
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Madureira J, Slezakova K, Costa C, Pereira MC, Teixeira JP. Assessment of indoor air exposure among newborns and their mothers: Levels and sources of PM 10, PM 2.5 and ultrafine particles at 65 home environments. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 264:114746. [PMID: 32417580 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Significant efforts have been directed towards addressing the adverse health effects of atmospheric particles, emphasizing the relevance of indoor exposure. Homes represent an indoor environment where human spend the majority of their time. Thus, the objective of this work was to concurrently assess different matrix of indoor particles considering both mass (PM10, PM2.5) and number (N20-1000) concentrations in indoor and outdoor air of homes (n = 65). Real-time measurements (PM10, PM2.5, UFP) were conducted simultaneously during 48 h in dwellings situated in Oporto, Portugal. In 75% of homes, indoor PM2.5 (mean = 53 μg m-3) exceeded limit of 25 μg m-3, for PM10 (mean = 57 μg m-3) 41% of homes demonstrated average levels higher than 50 μg m-3, thus indicating potential risks. Indoor PM10 was mostly (82-99%) composed of PM2.5, both PM were highly correlated (|rs|>0.9655), thus suggesting the similar origin. Indoor PM originated from infiltrations of outdoor emissions; ∼70% of homes exhibited indoor to outdoor (I/O) ratio < 1. On the contrary, UFP indoors (mean = 13.3 × 103 # cm-3) were higher than outdoors (mean = 10.0 × 103 # cm-3). Indoor UFP spatially varied as follows: kitchens > living rooms > bedrooms. UFP indoors were poorly correlated (|rs| = 0.456) with outdoor concentrations, I/O ratios showed that indoor UFP predominantly originated from indoor emission sources (combustions). Therefore, in order to reduce exposure to UFP and protect public health, the primary concerns should be focused on controlling emissions from indoor sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Madureira
- Environmental Health Department, National Institute of Health, Rua Alexandre Herculano 321, 4000-055, Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit-Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Das Taipas 135, 4050-600, Porto, Portugal
| | - Klara Slezakova
- LEPABE, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Carla Costa
- Environmental Health Department, National Institute of Health, Rua Alexandre Herculano 321, 4000-055, Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit-Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Das Taipas 135, 4050-600, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Carmo Pereira
- LEPABE, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Teixeira
- Environmental Health Department, National Institute of Health, Rua Alexandre Herculano 321, 4000-055, Porto, Portugal; EPIUnit-Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade Do Porto, Rua Das Taipas 135, 4050-600, Porto, Portugal
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Kumar P, Omidvarborna H, Pilla F, Lewin N. A primary school driven initiative to influence commuting style for dropping-off and picking-up of pupils. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 727:138360. [PMID: 32498201 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The use of cars for drop-off and pick-up of pupils from schools is a potential cause of pollution hotspots at school premises. Employing a joint execution of smart sensing technology and citizen science approach, a primary school took an initiative to co-design a study with local community and researchers to generate data and provide information to understand the impact on pollution levels and identify possible mitigation measures. This study was aimed to assess the hotspots of vehicle-generated particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) and ≤10 μm (PM10) at defined drop-off/pick-up points and its ingress into a nearby naturally ventilated primary school classroom. Five different locations were selected inside school premises for measurements during two peak hours: morning (MP; 0730-0930 h; local time), evening (EP; 1400-1600 h), and off-peak (OP; 1100-1300 h) hours for comparison. These represent PM measurements at the main road, pick-up point at the adjoining road, drop-off point, a classroom, and the school playground. Additional measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2) were taken simultaneously inside and outside (drop-off point) the classroom to understand its build-up and ingress of outdoor PM. The results demonstrated nearly a three-fold increase in the concentrations of fine particles (PM2.5) during drop-off hours compared to off-peak hours indicated the dominant contribution of car queuing in the school premises. Coarse particles (PM2.5-10) were prevalent in the school playground, while the contribution of fine particles as a result of traffic congestion became more pronounced during drop-off hours. In the naturally ventilated classroom, the changes in indoor PM2.5 concentrations during both peak hours (0.58 < R2 < 0.67) were followed by the outdoor concentration at the drop-off point. This initiative resulted in valuable information that might be used to influence school commuting style and raise other important issues such as the generally fairly high PM2.5 concentrations in the playground and future classroom ventilation plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashant Kumar
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom; Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Hamid Omidvarborna
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Pilla
- Department of Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, Dublin D14, Ireland
| | - Neil Lewin
- St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School, Guildford GU1 2SX, United Kingdom
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Pulimeno M, Piscitelli P, Colazzo S, Colao A, Miani A. Indoor air quality at school and students' performance: Recommendations of the UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development & the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA). Health Promot Perspect 2020; 10:169-174. [PMID: 32802752 PMCID: PMC7420173 DOI: 10.34172/hpp.2020.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The issue of indoor air quality (IAQ) concerns 64 million students across Europe, but it is still a neglected topic, although it impacts both their health and learning outcomes. Classroommicroclimate is the first key factor determining a healthy or unhealthy school environment, and it is influenced by ventilation, temperature and humidity rate. Classrooms are usually crowded, overheated and poorly ventilated, thus resulting in possible increases of carbon dioxide (CO2), that can cause several problems when its concentrations exceed the value of 0.15 percentage volume of CO2 (1500 ppm) or even at lower levels (1000 ppm). CO2 can also arise from outside the school, being widely produced by the combustion of fossils or road traffic. Anthropogenic activities are responsible for the emission of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAH) too, which represent other possible external contaminants potentially impairing IAQ. Furtherdangerous exposures for students' health are those related to natural emission of gas Radon, which typically accumulates in poorly ventilated classrooms, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs, released by building materials, paints, furnishings, detergents), while chemicals substances (i.e.cyanoacrylate, lead, cadmium, nickel) might be contained in school materials. Finally, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) originating from road traffic, domestic heating or industrial activities represent additional possible contaminants impacting schools' air quality. Poor IAQ might result in mild adverse events (i.e. headaches, nausea etc.) or cause respiratory problems. More frequently, IAQ affects students' attention and their school performances, as widely documented by many studies. Standardized tests administered to pupils exposed to poor IAQ (to assess reading and mathematical abilities) systematically result in worse outcomes compared to students staying in healthy classroom environments. In this paper, we present recommendations of UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development and Italian Society of Environmental Medicine(SIMA) to ensure an optimal IAQ at school, including some post-COVID-19 issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Pulimeno
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Naples, Italy.,Doctorate in Human Relations Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Naples, Italy.,Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy
| | - Salvatore Colazzo
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Naples, Italy.,Department of History, Society and Human Studies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Naples, Italy.,Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University School of Medicine, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miani
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Naples, Italy.,Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy
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van Drooge BL, Rivas I, Querol X, Sunyer J, Grimalt JO. Organic Air Quality Markers of Indoor and Outdoor PM 2.5 Aerosols in Primary Schools from Barcelona. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E3685. [PMID: 32456201 PMCID: PMC7277704 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17103685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Airborne particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 µg, PM2.5 was regularly sampled in classrooms (indoor) and playgrounds (outdoor) of primary schools from Barcelona. Three of these schools were located downtown and three in the periphery, representing areas with high and low traffic intensities. These aerosols were analyzed for organic molecular tracers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to identify the main sources of these airborne particles and evaluate the air quality in the urban location of the schools. Traffic emissions were the main contributors of PAHs to the atmospheres in all schools, with higher average concentrations in those located downtown (1800-2700 pg/m3) than in the periphery (760-1000 pg/m3). The similarity of the indoor and outdoor concentrations of the PAH is consistent with a transfer of outdoor traffic emissions to the indoor classrooms. This observation was supported by the hopane and elemental carbon concentrations in PM2.5, markers of motorized vehicles, that were correlated with PAHs. The concentrations of food-related markers, such as glucoses, sucrose, malic, azelaic and fatty acids, were correlated and were higher in the indoor atmospheres. These compounds were also correlated with plastic additives, such as phthalic acid and diisobutyl, dibutyl and dicyclohexyl phthalates. Clothing constituents, e.g., adipic acid, and fragrances, galaxolide and methyl dihydrojasmonate were also correlated with these indoor air compounds. All these organic tracers were correlated with the organic carbon of PM2.5, which was present in higher concentrations in the indoor than in the outdoor atmospheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barend L. van Drooge
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (I.R.); (X.Q.); (J.O.G.)
| | - Ioar Rivas
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (I.R.); (X.Q.); (J.O.G.)
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (I.R.); (X.Q.); (J.O.G.)
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Joan O. Grimalt
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; (I.R.); (X.Q.); (J.O.G.)
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Zhang T, Liu P, Sun X, Zhang C, Wang M, Xu J, Pu S, Huang L. Application of an advanced spatiotemporal model for PM 2.5 prediction in Jiangsu Province, China. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 246:125563. [PMID: 31884232 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Either long- or short-term of fine particle (PM2.5) exposure is associated with adverse health effects especially for children. Primary school students spend much time in schools whereas PM2.5 prediction for such fine-scale places remains a demanding task, let alone a combined prediction with high temporal resolution. The study aimed to estimate PM2.5 levels of different time scales for primary schools in Jiangsu Province, China. Hourly PM2.5 measurements within the academic year (Sept. 2016-June 2017) were collected from 72 routine monitoring sites. Together with PM2.5 emission inventory and dozens of geographic variables, an advanced spatiotemporal land use regression (LUR) model was employed to estimate PM2.5 concentrations of biweekly, seasonal and academic year levels in Jiangsu Province at 2457 primary school locations. 10-fold cross-validation verified high prediction ability with squared correlations RCV2 of 0.72 for temporal and 0.71 for spatial changes. PM2.5 levels in primary schools in Nanjing and Nantong were >10% higher than that of the corresponding cities while pollution levels in primary schools in Xuzhou were >20% lower. For 10 out of the 13 cities in Jiangsu, PM2.5 levels for primary schools surpassed 70 μg/m3 in winter. Schools in Lianyungang, Zhenjiang and Huai'an suffered the most. This study demonstrated the fine-scale prediction ability of the novel spatiotemporal LUR model, as well as the potential and necessity to apply it in epidemiological studies. It also verified the emergency of pollution control for primary schools from cities such as Lianyungang and Zhenjiang.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia, Nanjing, 210023, China; Key Laboratory of Surficial Geochemistry, Ministry of Education, School of the Earth Science and Engineering, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Ave, Qixia, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Penghui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xue Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Can Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Jia Xu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Shengyan Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, 1 Dongsanlu, Erxianqiao, Chengdu, 610059, China
| | - Lei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Avenue, Qixia, Nanjing, 210023, China.
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Alghamdi MA, Hassan SK, Alzahrani NA, Al Sharif MY, Khoder MI. Classroom Dust-Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Jeddah Primary Schools, Saudi Arabia: Level, Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E2779. [PMID: 32316605 PMCID: PMC7215388 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17082779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Data concerning polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Jeddah's schools, Saudi Arabia, and their implications for health risks to children, is scarce. Classroom air conditioner filter dusts were collected from primary schools in urban, suburban and residential areas of Jeddah. This study aimed to assess the characteristics of classroom-dust-bound PAHs and the health risks to children of PAH exposure. Average PAH concentrations were higher in urban schools than suburban and residential schools. Benzo (b)fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(ghi)perylene (BGP), chrysene (CRY) and Dibenz[a,h]anthracene (DBA) at urban and suburban schools and BbF, BGP, fluoranthene (FLT) and indeno (1, 2, 3, -cd)pyrene (IND) at residential schools were the dominant compounds in classroom dust. PAHs with five aromatic rings were the most abundant at all schools. The relative contribution of the individual PAH compounds to total PAH concentrations in the classroom dusts of schools indicate that the study areas do share a common source, vehicle emissions. Based on diagnostic ratios of PAHs, they are emitted from local pyrogenic sources, and traffic is the significant PAH source, with more significant contributions from gasoline-fueled than from diesel cars. Based on benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (BaPequi) calculations, total carcinogenic activity (TCA) for total PAHs represent 21.59% (urban schools), 20.99% (suburban schools), and 18.88% (residential schools) of total PAH concentrations. DBA and BaP were the most dominant compounds contributing to the TCA, suggesting the importance of BaP and DBA as surrogate compounds for PAHs in this schools. Based on incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCingestion, ILCRinhalation, ILCRdermal) and total lifetime cancer risk (TLCR)) calculations, the order of cancer risk was: urban schools > suburban schools > residential schools. Both ingestion and dermal contact are major contributors to cancer risk. Among PAHs, DBA, BaP, BbF, benzo(a)anthracene (BaA), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BkF), and IND have the highest ILCR values at all schools. LCR and TLCR values at all schools were lower than 10-6, indicating virtual safety. DBA, BaP and BbF were the predominant contributors to cancer effects in all schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansour A. Alghamdi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80208, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (M.Y.A.S.); (M.I.K.)
| | - Salwa K. Hassan
- Air Pollution Department, National Research Centre, El Behooth Str., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt;
| | - Noura A. Alzahrani
- Office of Education/South Jeddah (Girls), Department of Primary Grades, Ministry of Education, Jeddah 23524, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Marwan Y. Al Sharif
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80208, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (M.Y.A.S.); (M.I.K.)
| | - Mamdouh I. Khoder
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80208, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; (M.Y.A.S.); (M.I.K.)
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Comparison Study between Indoor and Outdoor Chemical Composition of PM2.5 in Two Italian Areas. ATMOSPHERE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos11040368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Outdoor air quality guidelines have been constantly implemented during the last decades. Nonetheless, no international regulations have been put into action in terms of indoor air quality standards and standardized procedures for indoor pollution measurements. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition of PM2.5 collected outdoors and indoors at six dwellings located in two Italian areas. The selected sites concerned inland/central and southern Italy, including urban, peri-urban, rural and coastal settings. The seasonal and site-specific particulate matter (PM) variations were analyzed outdoors and indoors, by estimating the impact of the main macro-sources and the contribution of the macro- and micro-components. Outdoors, organic matter represented the main contribution at inland and coastal sites, respectively during winter and summer. A clear, seasonal variation was also observed for secondary inorganic species. A site-specific dependence was exhibited by traffic-related components. Indoors, organic and soil-related species were influenced by the presence of the inhabitants. Some specific tracers allowed to identify additional local source contributions and indoor activities. Although the sampling season and site location defined the outdoor air quality, the higher PM concentrations and the chemical composition indoors were influenced by the infiltration of outdoor air and by the indoor activities carried out by its inhabitants.
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Leppänen M, Peräniemi S, Koponen H, Sippula O, Pasanen P. The effect of the shoeless course on particle concentrations and dust composition in schools. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 710:136272. [PMID: 31926411 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Airborne particles may effect on indoor air quality in schools. One significant particle source is outdoor dust and soil transported indoors on people's shoes, which may be resuspended, and further inhaled by pupils and teachers. In many Finnish schools, shoes are taken off by coat racks near the classrooms (shoe schools). The new course of action is to take shoes off right when entering the building (sock schools). In this study, particle mass and number concentrations, together with chemical composition of the dust were investigated in sock and shoe schools. According to results, PM10 and PM15 concentrations in corridors were significantly higher in shoe schools compared to sock schools (p < 0.05). The shoeless course did not affect on the particle number concentrations, but the increases in the number concentrations originated from diners. The elemental concentrations (Li, Al, Si, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba, Pb) in settled dust were also higher in shoe schools compared to sock schools, and the Zn concentrations differed significantly (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study showed that by taking the shoes off when entering the school building you can enhance the indoor air quality by reducing the particle mass concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maija Leppänen
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, P. O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Sirpa Peräniemi
- University of Eastern Finland, School of Pharmacy, P. O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Hanna Koponen
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, P. O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Olli Sippula
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, P. O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pertti Pasanen
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, P. O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
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Park JH, Lee TJ, Park MJ, Oh HN, Jo YM. Effects of air cleaners and school characteristics on classroom concentrations of particulate matter in 34 elementary schools in Korea. BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT 2020; 167:106437. [PMID: 32419719 PMCID: PMC7226911 DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2019.106437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to particulate matter (PM) in school environments has been associated with respiratory illnesses among children. Although using air cleaners was reported to reduce PM exposure and improve residents' health in homes, their effects in classrooms are not well understood. We examined how the use of air cleaners in classrooms and school/classroom characteristics affect the levels of indoor PM. Our environmental study included 102 classrooms from 34 elementary schools located on the mainland peninsula and an island in Korea. Indoor and outdoor PM were monitored simultaneously with portable aerosol spectrometers, and indoor gravimetric PM levels were measured with low volume, size-selective samplers during the class hours. Correlations among PM measurements were computed and final multiple regression models for indoor PM were constructed with a model building procedure. Correlation between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 (PM < 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter) was higher (r = 0.78, p < 0.01) than that of PM10 (PM < 10 μm) (r = 0.49, p < 0.01). School location, classroom occupant density, and ambient PM levels significantly (p-values<0.05) affected classroom PM concentrations. The adjusted PM levels in classrooms using air cleaners were significantly (p-values<0.01) lower by approximately 35% than in classrooms not using them. However, air cleaners appeared to remove PM2.5 more effectively than PM10, perhaps because coarse particles settle more rapidly than fine particles on surfaces, or their resuspension and generation rate by occupants exceeds the removal rate by air cleaners. Our study suggests that routine cleaning to remove surface dust along with the use of air cleaners might be required to effectively reduce occupants' exposure in classrooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Hyeong Park
- Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Department of Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yong-In, Gyung-Gi Do, South Korea
- Corresponding author. Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA. (J.-H. Park)
| | - Tae Jung Lee
- Department of Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yong-In, Gyung-Gi Do, South Korea
| | - Mi Jeong Park
- Department of Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yong-In, Gyung-Gi Do, South Korea
| | - Hyung Na Oh
- College of International Studies, Kyung Hee University, Yong-In, Gyung-Gi Do, South Korea
| | - Young Min Jo
- Department of Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Yong-In, Gyung-Gi Do, South Korea
- Corresponding author. Department of Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Duk-Young Dae-Ro, Yong-In, Gyung-Gi Do, 17104, South Korea. (Y.M. Jo)
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Kalimeri KK, Bartzis JG, Sakellaris IA, de Oliveira Fernandes E. Investigation of the PM 2.5, NO 2 and O 3 I/O ratios for office and school microenvironments. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 179:108791. [PMID: 31605869 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Differentiation of the exposure to PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter), NO2 and O3 i.e. pollutants of outdoor origin, due to the occupation of office and school microenvironments, was investigated through the quantification of the respective Indoor to Outdoor (I/O) ratios, in simple statistical terms. For that cause, indoor and outdoor observation data were retrieved from the HEALS EDMS database, and more specifically the data from the OFFICAIR and the SINPHONIE EU projects. The I/O ratios were produced and were statistically analyzed in order to be able to study the influence of the indoor environment against the pollutants coming from outdoors. The present statistical approach highlighted also the differences of I/O ratios between the two studied microenvironments for each pollutant. For exposure estimation to the above-mentioned pollutants, the probability and cumulative distribution function (pdf/cdf) empirical approximations led to the conclusion that for offices the I/O ratios of PM2.5 follow a normal distribution, while NO2 and O3 a gamma distribution. Respectively, for schools the I/O ratios of all pollutants follow a lognormal distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystallia K Kalimeri
- Environmental Technology Laboratory, Dep. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, Bakola & Sialvera, 50132, Kozani, Greece.
| | - John G Bartzis
- Environmental Technology Laboratory, Dep. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, Bakola & Sialvera, 50132, Kozani, Greece.
| | - Ioannis A Sakellaris
- Environmental Technology Laboratory, Dep. of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, Bakola & Sialvera, 50132, Kozani, Greece.
| | - Eduardo de Oliveira Fernandes
- Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
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Curto A, Donaire-Gonzalez D, Manaca MN, González R, Sacoor C, Rivas I, Gascon M, Wellenius GA, Querol X, Sunyer J, Macete E, Menéndez C, Tonne C. Predictors of personal exposure to black carbon among women in southern semi-rural Mozambique. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 131:104962. [PMID: 31301586 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the highest proportion of people using unclean fuels for household energy, which can result in products of incomplete combustion that are damaging for health. Black carbon (BC) is a useful marker of inefficient combustion-related particles; however, ambient air quality data and temporal patterns of personal exposure to BC in SSA are scarce. We measured ambient elemental carbon (EC), comparable to BC, and personal exposure to BC in women of childbearing age from a semi-rural area of southern Mozambique. We measured ambient EC over one year (2014-2015) using a high-volume sampler and an off-line thermo-optical-transmission method. We simultaneously measured 5-min resolved 24-h personal BC using a portable MicroAeth (AE51) in 202 women. We used backwards stepwise linear regression to identify predictors of log-transformed 24-h mean and peak (90th percentile) personal BC exposure. We analyzed data from 187 non-smoking women aged 16-46 years. While daily mean ambient EC reached moderate levels (0.9 μg/m3, Standard Deviation, SD: 0.6 μg/m3), daily mean personal BC reached high levels (15 μg/m3, SD: 19 μg/m3). Daily patterns of personal exposure revealed a peak between 6 and 7 pm (>35 μg/m3), attributable to kerosene-based lighting. Key determinants of mean and peak personal exposure to BC were lighting source, kitchen type, ambient EC levels, and temperature. This study highlights the important contribution of lighting sources to personal exposure to combustion particles in populations that lack access to clean household energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariadna Curto
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - David Donaire-Gonzalez
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Division of Environmental Epidemiology (EEPI), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Maria N Manaca
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Raquel González
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique; ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Charfudin Sacoor
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Ioar Rivas
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain; MRC-PHE Centre for Environment & Health, Environmental Research Group, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mireia Gascon
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gregory A Wellenius
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDÆA-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain; IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eusébio Macete
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Clara Menéndez
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigação em Saúde da Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique; ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cathryn Tonne
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
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Carrion-Matta A, Kang CM, Gaffin JM, Hauptman M, Phipatanakul W, Koutrakis P, Gold DR. Classroom indoor PM 2.5 sources and exposures in inner-city schools. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 131:104968. [PMID: 31295642 PMCID: PMC6728184 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Children spend over 6 h a day in schools and have higher asthma morbidity from school environmental exposures. The present study aims to determine indoor and outdoor possible sources affecting indoor PM2.5 in classrooms. Weeklong indoor PM2.5 samples were collected from 32 inner-city schools from a Northeastern U.S. community during three seasons (fall, winter and spring) during the years 2009 to 2013. Concurrently, daily outdoor PM2.5 samples were taken at a central monitoring site located at a median distance of 4974 m (range 1065-11,592 m) from the schools. Classroom indoor concentrations of PM2.5 (an average of 5.2 μg/m3) were lower than outdoors (an average of 6.5 μg/m3), and these averages were in the lower range compared to the findings in other schools' studies. The USEPA PMF model was applied to the PM2.5 components measured simultaneously from classroom indoor and outdoor to estimate the source apportionment. The major sources (contributions) identified across all seasons of indoor PM2.5 were secondary pollution (41%) and motor vehicles (17%), followed by Calcium (Ca)-rich particles (12%), biomass burning (15%), soil dust (6%), and marine aerosols (4%). Likewise, the major sources of outdoor PM2.5 across all seasons were secondary pollution (41%) and motor vehicles (26%), followed by biomass burning (17%), soil dust (7%), road dust (3%), and marine aerosols (1%). Secondary pollution was the greatest contributor to indoor and outdoor PM2.5 over all three seasons, with the highest contribution during spring with 53% to indoor PM2.5 and 45% to outdoor PM2.5. Lower contributions of this source during fall and winter are most likely attributed to less infiltration indoors. In contrast, the indoor contribution of motor vehicles source was highest in the fall (29%) and winter (25%), which was presumably categorized by a local source. From the relationship between indoor-to-outdoor sulfur ratios and each source contribution, we also estimated the local and regional influence on indoor PM2.5 concentration. Overall, the observed differences to indoor PM2.5 are related to seasonality, and the distinct characteristics and behavior of each classroom/school.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleshka Carrion-Matta
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Choong-Min Kang
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan M Gaffin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Respiratory Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marissa Hauptman
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Diane R Gold
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Sánchez-Soberón F, Rovira J, Sierra J, Mari M, Domingo JL, Schuhmacher M. Seasonal characterization and dosimetry-assisted risk assessment of indoor particulate matter (PM 10-2.5, PM 2.5-0.25, and PM 0.25) collected in different schools. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 175:287-296. [PMID: 31146100 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Inhalation of particulate matter (PM) has been linked to serious adverse health effects, such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer. In the present study, coarse (PM10-2.5), accumulation mode (PM2.5-0.25), and quasi-ultrafine (PM0.25) particulates were collected inside twelve educative centers of Tarragona County (Catalonia, Spain) during two seasons (cold and warm). Chemical characterization of PM, as well as risk assessment were subsequently conducted in order to evaluate respiratory and digestive risks during school time for children. Levels and chemical composition of PM were very different among the 12 centers. Average PM levels were higher during the cold season, as well as the concentrations of most toxic metals. In most schools, PM levels were below the daily PM10 threshold established in the regulation (50 μg/m3), with the exception of school number 1 during the cold season. On average, and regardless of season, coarse PM was highly influenced by mineral matter, while organic matter and elemental carbon were prevalent in quasi-ultrafine PM. The concentrations of the toxic elements considered by the legislation (As, Cd, Pb, and Ni) were below their correspondent regulatory annual limits. Calculated risks were below the safety thresholds, being fine fractions (PM2.5-0.25 and PM0.25) the main contributors to both digestive and respiratory risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Sánchez-Soberón
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Chemical Engineering Department, Environmental Analysis and Management Group, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Rovira
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Chemical Engineering Department, Environmental Analysis and Management Group, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Spain; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, School of Medicine, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, IISPV, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Jordi Sierra
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Chemical Engineering Department, Environmental Analysis and Management Group, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Spain; Laboratori d'Edafologia, Facultat de Farmacia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Montse Mari
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Chemical Engineering Department, Environmental Analysis and Management Group, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Spain
| | - José L Domingo
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, School of Medicine, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, IISPV, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marta Schuhmacher
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Chemical Engineering Department, Environmental Analysis and Management Group, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007, Tarragona, Spain
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50
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Oh HJ, Jeong NN, Sohn JR, Roh JS, Kim J. Exposure to inhalable aerosols and their chemical characteristics from different potential factors in urban office environments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:21750-21759. [PMID: 31134538 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05375-9] [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: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is one of important issues in indoor environment due to exposure to inhalable aerosol which is affected by indoor and outdoor factors. To demonstrate the effect of indoor and outdoor to the IAQ, this study presents three fractions of particulate matter (PM) (PM2.5, PM4, PM10), characterization of I/O ratios for PM under potential indoor (average occupancy) and outdoor factors (Asian dust, rain, wind, and snow days) and evaluation of chemical components in aerosols. In the chemical characteristics of PM, organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and trace elements were analyzed in indoors and outdoors. There was no significant difference of respirable aerosol (PM2.5 and PM4) concentration in different indoor environments. The concentration of OC in PM10 was lower in indoor than outdoor in summer and winter seasons, while the concentration of OC in PM2.5 was higher in indoor than outdoor. Also, the OC/EC ratios in PM2.5 were higher than those in PM10. Further, the ratios of trace elements in PM2.5 and PM10 were different at various locations within the building. This study demonstrated that the exposure to PM2.5 is greatly affected by outdoor environment. Although there was no difference in inhalable and respirable aerosol concentration at different locations within the building, the impact of outdoor factors is strongly supported by OC/EC ratios and PM2.5/PM10 ratios of trace elements. This study shows that chemical components through the HVAC system affected the exposure to the indoor respirable aerosol, which could lead to adverse effect on the indoor air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeon-Ju Oh
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, 61 Daehak-ro (Yangho-Dong), Gumi, Gyeongbuk, 39177, South Korea
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
| | - Na-Na Jeong
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Jong-Ryeul Sohn
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea.
| | - Jae-Seung Roh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, 61 Daehak-ro (Yangho-Dong), Gumi, Gyeongbuk, 39177, South Korea
| | - Jongbok Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, 61 Daehak-ro (Yangho-Dong), Gumi, Gyeongbuk, 39177, South Korea.
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