Assessment of PM 2.5 Exposure during Cycle Trips in The Netherlands Using Low-Cost Sensors

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-06, Vol.18 (11)
• Main Authors: Wesseling, Joost, Hendricx, Wouter, de Ruiter, Henri, van Ratingen, Sjoerd, Drukker, Derko, Huitema, Maaike, Schouwenaar, Claar, Janssen, Geert, van Aken, Stephen, Smeenk, Jan Willem, Hof, Arjen, Tielemans, Erik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Environmental Monitoring; Europe; Humans; Netherlands; Particulate Matter - analysis
• ISSN: 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18116007

Air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM ), is a major environmental risk factor for human health in Europe. Monitoring of air quality takes place using expensive reference stations. Low-cost sensors are a promising addition to this official monitoring network as they add spatial and temporal resolution at low cost. Moreover, low-cost sensors might allow for better characterization of personal exposure to PM . In this study, we use 500 dust (PM ) sensors mounted on bicycles to estimate typical PM levels to which cyclists are exposed in the province of Utrecht, the Netherlands, in the year 2020. We use co-located sensors at reference stations to calibrate and validate the mobile sensor data. We estimate that the average exposure to traffic related PM . on top of background concentrations, is approximately 2 μg/m . Our results suggest that cyclists close to major roads have a small, but consistently higher exposure to PM compared to routes with less traffic. The results allow for a detailed spatial representation of PM concentrations and show that choosing a different cycle route might lead to a lower exposure to PM . Finally, we conclude that the use of mobile, low-cost sensors is a promising method to estimate exposure to air pollution.