Children’s microenvironmental exposure to PM2.5 and ozone and the impact of indoor air filtration

• Published in: Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology 2020-11, Vol.30 (6), p.971-980
• Main Authors: Barkjohn, Karoline K., Norris, Christina, Cui, Xiaoxing, Fang, Lin, He, Linchen, Schauer, James J., Zhang, Yinping, Black, Marilyn, Zhang, Junfeng, Bergin, Michael H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Air cleaners; Air pollution; Airborne particulates; Asthma; Bedrooms; Carbon filters; Children; Emission control equipment; Environmental engineering; Epidemiology; Exposure; Filtration; Indoor air quality; Indoor environments; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Microenvironments; Outdoor air quality; Particulate matter; Pollutants; Pollution monitoring; Real time; Sensors; Urban areas; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds
• ISSN: 1559-0631; 1559-064X
• DOI: 10.1038/s41370-020-00266-5

Background In highly polluted urban areas, personal exposure to PM 2.5 and O 3 occur daily in various microenvironments. Identifying which microenvironments contribute most to exposure can pinpoint effective exposure reduction strategies and mitigate adverse health impacts. Methods This work uses real-time sensors to assess the exposures of children with asthma ( N  = 39) in Shanghai, quantifying microenvironmental exposure to PM 2.5 and O 3 . An air cleaner was deployed in participants’ bedrooms where we hypothesized exposure could be most efficiently reduced. Monitoring occurred for two 48-h periods: one with bedroom filtration (portable air cleaner with HEPA and activated carbon filters) and the other without. Results Children spent 91% of their time indoors with the majority spent in their bedroom (47%). Without filtration, the bedroom and classroom environments were the largest contributors to PM 2.5 exposure. With filtration, bedroom PM 2.5 exposure was reduced by 75% (45% of total exposure). Although filtration status did not impact O 3 , the largest contribution of O 3 exposure also came from the bedroom. Conclusions Actions taken to reduce bedroom PM 2.5 and O 3 concentrations can most efficiently reduce total exposure. As real-time pollutant monitors become more accessible, similar analyses can be used to evaluate new interventions and optimize exposure reductions for a variety of populations.