Personal exposure to equivalent black carbon in children in Milan, Italy: Time-activity patterns and predictors by season. (1st April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boniardi, Luca; Dons, Evi; Longhi, Francesca; Scuffi, Chiara; Campo, Laura; Van Poppel, Martine; Int Panis, Luc; Fustinoni, Silvia
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 274(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04-01
• Subjects: Black carbon -- Personal monitoring -- Children -- Time-activity pattern -- Exposure modelling -- Participatory research; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116530
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Air pollution is a global threat to public health, especially when considering susceptible populations, such as children. A better understanding of determinants of exposure could help epidemiologists in refining exposure assessment methods, and policy makers in identifying effective mitigation interventions. Through a participatory approach, 73 and 89 schoolchildren were involved in a two-season personal exposure monitoring campaign of equivalent black carbon (EBC) in Milan, Italy. GPS devices, time-activity diaries and a questionnaire were used to collect personal information. Exposure to EBC was 1.3 ± 1.5 μg/m 3 and 3.9 ± 3.3 μg/m 3 (mean ± sd) during the warm and the cold season, respectively. The highest peaks of exposure were detected during the home-to-school commute. Children received most of their daily dose at school and home (82%), but the highest dose/time intensity was related to transportation and outdoor environments. Linear mixed-effect models showed that meteorological variables were the most influencing predictors of personal exposure and inhaled dose, especially in the cold season. The total time spent in a car, duration of the home-to-school commute, and smoking habits of parents were important predictors as well. Our findings suggest that seasonality, time-activity and mobility patterns play an important role in explaining exposure patterns. Furthermore, by highlighting the contribution of traffic rush hours, transport-related microenvironments and traffic-related predictors, our study suggests that acting on a local scale could be an effective way of lowering personal exposure to EBC and inhaled dose of children in the city of Milan. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: 97 children (8 and 9-year-olds) measured 24h black carbon in a participatory approach. Personal black carbon was 3-fold higher during the cold season. Peaks of exposure and inhaled dose were related to transport microenvironments. Home-to-school commuting was related to the highest peaks of exposure. Meteo, transport and parental-smoking explained personal exposure and dose.