Exposure to Submicron Particles and Estimation of the Dose Received by Children in School and Non-School Environments
In the present study, the daily dose in terms of submicron particle surface area received by children attending schools located in three different areas (rural, suburban, and urban), characterized by different outdoor concentrations, was evaluated. For this purpose, the exposure to submicron particl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/5/485 |
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| author | Antonio Pacitto Luca Stabile Stefania Russo Giorgio Buonanno |
| author_facet | Antonio Pacitto Luca Stabile Stefania Russo Giorgio Buonanno |
| author_sort | Antonio Pacitto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the present study, the daily dose in terms of submicron particle surface area received by children attending schools located in three different areas (rural, suburban, and urban), characterized by different outdoor concentrations, was evaluated. For this purpose, the exposure to submicron particle concentration levels of the children were measured through a direct exposure assessment approach. In particular, measurements of particle number and lung-deposited surface area concentrations at “personal scale” of 60 children were performed through a handheld particle counter to obtain exposure data in the different microenvironments they resided. Such data were combined with the time–activity pattern data, characteristics of each child, and inhalation rates (related to the activity performed) to obtain the total daily dose in terms of particle surface area. The highest daily dose was estimated for children attending the schools located in the urban and suburban areas (>1000 mm<sup>2</sup>), whereas the lowest value was estimated for children attending the school located in a rural area (646 mm<sup>2</sup>). Non-school indoor environments were recognized as the most influential in terms of children’s exposure and, thus, of received dose (>70%), whereas school environments contribute not significantly to the children daily dose, with dose fractions of 15–19% for schools located in urban and suburban areas and just 6% for the rural one. Therefore, the study clearly demonstrates that, whatever the school location, the children daily dose cannot be determined on the basis of the exposures in outdoor or school environments, but a direct assessment able to investigate the exposure of children during indoor environment is essential. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:56:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba746d428f0f4e69a911bc2c7315e508 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:56:47Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba746d428f0f4e69a911bc2c7315e5082023-11-19T23:55:15ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-05-0111548510.3390/atmos11050485Exposure to Submicron Particles and Estimation of the Dose Received by Children in School and Non-School EnvironmentsAntonio Pacitto0Luca Stabile1Stefania Russo2Giorgio Buonanno3Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, ItalyFIMP-Federazione Italiana Medici Pediatri, 00185 Roma, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, ItalyIn the present study, the daily dose in terms of submicron particle surface area received by children attending schools located in three different areas (rural, suburban, and urban), characterized by different outdoor concentrations, was evaluated. For this purpose, the exposure to submicron particle concentration levels of the children were measured through a direct exposure assessment approach. In particular, measurements of particle number and lung-deposited surface area concentrations at “personal scale” of 60 children were performed through a handheld particle counter to obtain exposure data in the different microenvironments they resided. Such data were combined with the time–activity pattern data, characteristics of each child, and inhalation rates (related to the activity performed) to obtain the total daily dose in terms of particle surface area. The highest daily dose was estimated for children attending the schools located in the urban and suburban areas (>1000 mm<sup>2</sup>), whereas the lowest value was estimated for children attending the school located in a rural area (646 mm<sup>2</sup>). Non-school indoor environments were recognized as the most influential in terms of children’s exposure and, thus, of received dose (>70%), whereas school environments contribute not significantly to the children daily dose, with dose fractions of 15–19% for schools located in urban and suburban areas and just 6% for the rural one. Therefore, the study clearly demonstrates that, whatever the school location, the children daily dose cannot be determined on the basis of the exposures in outdoor or school environments, but a direct assessment able to investigate the exposure of children during indoor environment is essential.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/5/485exposure assessmentschoolchildrennumber concentrationlung-deposited surface areadose |
| spellingShingle | Antonio Pacitto Luca Stabile Stefania Russo Giorgio Buonanno Exposure to Submicron Particles and Estimation of the Dose Received by Children in School and Non-School Environments Atmosphere exposure assessment school children number concentration lung-deposited surface area dose |
| title | Exposure to Submicron Particles and Estimation of the Dose Received by Children in School and Non-School Environments |
| title_full | Exposure to Submicron Particles and Estimation of the Dose Received by Children in School and Non-School Environments |
| title_fullStr | Exposure to Submicron Particles and Estimation of the Dose Received by Children in School and Non-School Environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exposure to Submicron Particles and Estimation of the Dose Received by Children in School and Non-School Environments |
| title_short | Exposure to Submicron Particles and Estimation of the Dose Received by Children in School and Non-School Environments |
| title_sort | exposure to submicron particles and estimation of the dose received by children in school and non school environments |
| topic | exposure assessment school children number concentration lung-deposited surface area dose |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/5/485 |
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