title: Personal exposure monitoring of PM2.5 in indoor and outdoor microenvironments.
abstract: Adverse health effects from exposure to air pollution are a global challenge and of widespread concern. Recent high ambient concentration episodes of air pollutants in European cities highlighted the dynamic nature of human exposure and the gaps in data and knowledge about exposure patterns. In order to support health impact assessment it is essential to develop a better understanding of individual exposure pathways in people's everyday lives by taking account of all environments in which people spend time. Here we describe the development, validation and results of an exposure method applied in a study conducted in Scotland. A low-cost particle counter based on light-scattering technology - the Dylos 1700 was used. Its performance was validated in comparison with equivalent instruments (TEOM-FDMS) at two national monitoring network sites (R(2)=0.9 at a rural background site, R(2)=0.7 at an urban background site). This validation also provided two functions to convert measured PNCs into calculated particle mass concentrations for direct comparison of concentrations with equivalent monitoring instruments and air quality limit values. This study also used contextual and time-based activity data to define six microenvironments (MEs) to assess everyday exposure of individuals to short-term PM2.5 concentrations. The Dylos was combined with a GPS receiver to track movement and exposure of individuals across the MEs. Seventeen volunteers collected 35 profiles. Profiles may have a different overall duration and structure with respect to times spent in different MEs and activities undertaken. Results indicate that due to the substantial variability across and between MEs, it is essential to measure near-complete exposure pathways to allow for a comprehensive assessment of the exposure risk a person encounters on a daily basis. Taking into account the information gained through personal exposure measurements, this work demonstrates the added value of data generated by the application of low-cost monitors.
authors.affiliation: NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, United Kingdom; Geography, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ, United Kingdom; Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, Research Avenue North, Riccarton EH14 4AP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: susein@ceh.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steinle
authors.affiliation: NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, United Kingdom; European Centre for Environment and Human Health (ECEHH), University of Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3HD, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Rd, Bristol BS8 1SS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Clive E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Sabel
authors.affiliation: Scottish Centre for Indoor Air, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom; Scottish Centre for Indoor Air, Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, Research Avenue North, Riccarton EH14 4AP, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Semple
authors.affiliation: NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marsailidh M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Twigg
authors.affiliation: NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christine F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Braban
authors.affiliation: NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Leeson
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mathew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Heal
authors.affiliation: Bureau Veritas, 5th Floor, 66 Prescot Street, London E1 8HG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.affiliation: University of Edinburgh, School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH), Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0QB, United Kingdom; University of Edinburgh, School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FJ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062489:Health Impact Assessment; D006801:Humans; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012606:Scotland
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Air pollution; GPS; Particle counter; Particulate matter; Personal exposure