Human Emissions of Size-Resolved Fluorescent Aerosol Particles: Influence of Personal and Environmental Factors

• Published in: Environmental science & technology 2021-01, Vol.55 (1), p.509-518
• Main Authors: Yang, Shen, Bekö, Gabriel, Wargocki, Pawel, Williams, Jonathan, Licina, Dusan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Aerosols; Aerosols - analysis; Age; Aged; Air Pollutants - analysis; Air Pollution, Indoor - analysis; Air temperature; Emission measurements; Emissions control; Environmental factors; Environmental Monitoring; Fluorescence; Humans; Humidity; Indoor air quality; Indoor environments; Ozone; Particle Size; Relative humidity; Young Adult; Young adults
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06304

Human emissions of fluorescent aerosol particles (FAPs) can influence the biological burden of indoor air. Yet, quantification of FAP emissions from human beings remains limited, along with a poor understanding of the underlying emission mechanisms. To reduce the knowledge gap, we characterized human emissions of size-segregated FAPs (1-10 μm) and total particles in a climate chamber with low-background particle levels. We probed the influence of several personal factors (clothing coverage and age) and environmental parameters (level of ozone, air temperature, and relative humidity) on particle emissions from human volunteers. A material-balance model showed that the mean emission rate ranged 5.3-16 × 10 fluorescent particles per person-h (0.30-1.2 mg per person-h), with a dominant size mode within 3-5 μm. Volunteers wearing long-sleeve shirts and pants produced 40% more FAPs relative to those wearing t-shirts and shorts. Particle emissions varied across the age groups: seniors (average age 70.5 years) generated 50% fewer FAPs compared to young adults (25.0 years) and teenagers (13.8 years). While we did not observe a measurable influence of ozone (0 vs 40 ppb) on human FAP emissions, there was a strong influence of relative humidity (34 vs 62%), with FAP emissions decreasing by 30-60% at higher humidity.