Assessing the degree of personal exposure to PM2.5 in growing cities of Rwanda based on time-activity patterns and microenvironments

• Published in: City and environment interactions 2024-12, Vol.24, p.100174, Article 100174
• Main Authors: Safari Kagabo, Abdou, Safari, Bonfils, Gasore, Jimmy, Kipkoech Mutai, Bethwel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Fine particulate matter; Microenvironments; Participants; Personal exposure
• ISSN: 2590-2520; 2590-2520
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cacint.2024.100174

Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is strongly linked with a wide range of diverse health effects making it a substantial global threat and a critical concern for public health. While studies have been conducted on personal exposure (PE) to PM2.5 in specific environments, contributions of different microenvironments and activities to overall daily PE remain unclear. This study evaluates the degree of PE to PM2.5 in five growing cities of Rwanda based on individual’s time-activity patterns and visited microenvironments. A total of 150 participants were recruited to collect real-time personal and ambient PM2.5 measurements during their routine activities in different outdoor and indoor microenvironments for five consecutive days in dry season. Each participant was an employee in one of the six most prevalent urban economic activities found in their city of residence: workshops, flour mill plants, near road activities, garages, markets, kitchens and motorcycle taxi services. The participant’s day was categorized into three most distinct microenvironments grouped under home, work, and other microenvironments (other MEs). PE to PM2.5 assessed for all participants showed significant variability among types of activities and categories of microenvironments (p