Skip to main content
Log in

Characterisation of Particulate Matter Sampled during a Study of Children's Personal Exposure to Airborne Particulate Matter in a UK Urban Environment

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The personal exposure of children aged 9 – 11 years to particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) was carried out between January and September 1997 in the London Borough of Barnet. Personal sampling along with home, garden and classroom microenvironmental monitoring was completed for all ten children. Each child was monitored for five days during winter, spring and summer. All children completed daily time activity diaries to provide information on any potential activities that could influence their exposure to particulate matter. Each evening a household activity questionnaire was also completed by the parents. Personal Environmental Monitors were used to sample personal exposure to PM10 and PM2.5. Harvard Impactors were used for the microenvironmental sampling of both size fractions. The children's mean personal exposure concentrations for PM10 during winter, spring and summer were 72, 54 and 35 µg/m3 respectively and for PM2.5 22, 17 and 18 µg/m3 respectively. In order to determine the potential sources of particulate matter, analysis of the Teflon filters has been undertaken. The physical characteristics of the particles have been identified using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The relationships between personal exposure concentrations and the different microenvironments will be discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bennett, W.D., and Zeman, K.L. (1998). Deposition of Fine Particles in Children Spontaneously Breathing at Rest Inhalation Toxicology 10(9), 831–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison R.M. (1996) Airborne Particulate Matter in the United Kingdom Quality of Urban Air Review Group 3rd Report.

  • Janssen, N.A.H., (1998). Personal Exposure to Airborne Particles; Validity of Outdoor Concentrations as a Measure of Exposure in Time Series Studies. Thesis, University of Wageningen.

  • Mage, D. T., and Buckley, T. J. (1995). The Relationship between Personal Exposures and Ambient Concentrations of Particulate Matter. Air &; Waste Management Association, 80th Meeting &; Exhibition, Texas, 2-16.

  • McCrone, W. C., and Delly, J. G. (1973). The Particle Atlas, An Encyclopedia of Techniques for Small Particle Identification. (Ann Arbor Science Publishers).

  • Ozkaynak, H., Xue, J., Spengler, J., Wallace, L. A., Pellizzari, E., and Jenkins, P. (1996). Personal Exposure to Airborne Particles and Metals: Results from the Particle TEAM Study in Riverside, California. J. of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology 6(1), 57–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, K., Howard, D.A., Bentley, M.C., and Alvan, G. (1999). Assessment of Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Respirable Suspended Particle Exposures for Nonsmokers in Basel by Personal Monitoring. Atmos. Env. 33, 1889–1904.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodes, C.E., Kamens, R.M., and Wiener, R.W. (1991). The Significance and Characteristics of the Personal Activity Cloud on Exposure Assessment Measurements for Indoor Contaminants. Indoor Air 2, 123–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roemer, W., Hoek, G., and Brunekreef, B. (1993). Effect of Ambient Winter Air Pollution on Respiratory Health of Children with Chronic Respiratory Symptoms. American Review of Respiratory Disease 147, 118–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scarlett, J.F., Abbott, K.J., Peacock, J.L., Strachan, D.P., and Anderson, H.R. (1996). Acute Effects of Summer Air Pollution on Respiratory Function in Primary School Children in Southern England. Thorax 51, 1109–1114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spengler, J.D., Dockery, D.W., Turner, W.A., Wolfson, J.M., and Ferris, B.G. (1981). Long-Term Measurements of Respirable Sulfates and Particles Inside and Outside Homes. Atmos. Env. 15, 23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, K.W., Pellizzari, E.D., Clayton, C.A., Whitaker, D.A., Shores, R.C., Spengler, J., Ozkaynak, H., Froehlich, S.E., and Wallace, L.A. (1993). Particle Total Exposure Assessment Methodology 1990 Study: Method Performance and Data Quality for Personal, Indoor, and Outdoor Monitoring. J. of Exposure Analysis &; Environmental Epidemiology 3(2), 203–226.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wheeler, A., Williams, I., Beaumont, R. et al. Characterisation of Particulate Matter Sampled during a Study of Children's Personal Exposure to Airborne Particulate Matter in a UK Urban Environment. Environ Monit Assess 65, 69–77 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006447807980

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006447807980

Navigation