title: Occupational exposure to ultrafine particles among airport employees--combining personal monitoring and global positioning system.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) has been linked to cardiovascular and lung diseases. Combustion of jet fuel and diesel powered handling equipment emit UFP resulting in potentially high exposure levels among employees working at airports. High levels of UFP have been reported at several airports, especially on the apron, but knowledge on individual exposure profiles among different occupational groups working at an airport is lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare personal exposure to UFP among five different occupational groups working at Copenhagen Airport (CPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  30 employees from five different occupational groups (baggage handlers, catering drivers, cleaning staff and airside and landside security) at CPH were instructed to wear a personal monitor of particle number concentration in real time and a GPS device. The measurements were carried out on 8 days distributed over two weeks in October 2012. The overall differences between the groups were assessed using linear mixed model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data showed significant differences in exposure levels among the groups when adjusted for variation within individuals and for effect of time and date (p<0.01). Baggage handlers were exposed to 7 times higher average concentrations (geometric mean, GM: 37×103 UFP/cm(3), 95% CI: 25-55 × 10(3) UFP/cm(3)) than employees mainly working indoors (GM: 5 × 10(3) UFP/cm(3), 95% CI: 2-11 × 103 UFP/cm(3)). Furthermore, catering drivers, cleaning staff and airside security were exposed to intermediate concentrations (GM: 12 to 20 × 10(3) UFP/cm(3)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrates a strong gradient of exposure to UFP in ambient air across occupational groups of airport employees.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Karina Lauenborg
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lau Caspar
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Thygesen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jasper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schipperijn
authors.affiliation: Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loft
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bonde
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Sigurd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brauer
mesh_terms: D059028:Airports; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D009790:Occupations; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter