Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal.
Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal.
Environ Res. 2020 Apr;183:109203. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109203. Epub 2020 Feb 1.
Exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been associated with adverse health outcomes, particularly in susceptible population groups such as children. This study aims to characterise children's exposure to PM and its chemical constituents. Size-segregated aerosol samples (PM0.25, PM0.25-0.5, PM0.5-1.0, PM1.0-2.5 and PM2.5-10) were collected in the indoor and outdoor of homes and schools located in Lisbon (Portugal). Organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) were determined by a thermo-optical method, whereas major and trace elements were analysed by X-Ray Fluorescence. In school, the children were exposed to higher PM concentrations than in home, which might be associated not only to the elevated human occupancy but also to outdoor infiltration. The pattern of PM mass size distribution was dependent on the location (home vs. school and indoor vs. outdoor). The presence of EC in PM0.25 and OC in PM0.25-0.5 was linked to traffic exhaust emissions. OC and EC in PM2.5-10 may be explained by their adhesion to the surface of coarser particles. Generally, the concentrations of mineral and marine elements increased with increasing PM size, while for anthropogenic elements happened the opposite. In schools, the concentrations of mineral matter, anthropogenic elements and marine aerosol were higher than in homes. High mineral matter concentrations found in schools were related to the close proximity to busy roads and elevated human occupancy. Overall, the results suggest that exposure to PM is relevant and highlights the need for strategies that provide healthier indoor environments, principally in schools.
颗粒物（PM）暴露与不良健康后果有关，尤其是在儿童等易感人群中。本研究旨在描述儿童对 PM 及其化学成分的暴露情况。在位于里斯本（葡萄牙）的家庭和学校的室内和室外收集了按粒径大小分类的气溶胶样本（PM0.25、PM0.25-0.5、PM0.5-1.0、PM1.0-2.5 和 PM2.5-10）。采用热光法测定有机碳和元素碳（OC 和 EC），X 射线荧光法分析主要和微量元素。在学校，儿童的 PM 浓度高于家庭，这可能不仅与人员占用率升高有关，还与室外渗透有关。PM 质量粒径分布模式取决于位置（家庭与学校，室内与室外）。PM0.25 中的 EC 和 PM0.25-0.5 中的 OC 与交通尾气排放有关。PM2.5-10 中的 OC 和 EC 可能是由于它们附着在较粗颗粒的表面上。一般来说，矿物质和海洋元素的浓度随着 PM 粒径的增大而增加，而人为元素则相反。在学校，矿物质、人为元素和海洋气溶胶的浓度高于家庭。学校中发现的高矿物质浓度与靠近繁忙道路和人员占用率升高有关。总的来说，结果表明 PM 暴露是相关的，并强调需要采取策略提供更健康的室内环境，特别是在学校。
