Indoor exposure to ultrafine particles related to domestic activities: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sabyne Audignon-Durand; Olivier Ramalho; Corinne Mandin; Audrey Roudil; Olivier Le Bihan; Fleur Delva; Aude Lacourt

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166947

Indoor exposure to ultrafine particles related to domestic activities: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Dec 15:904:166947. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166947. Epub 2023 Sep 9.

Authors

Sabyne Audignon-Durand¹, Olivier Ramalho², Corinne Mandin², Audrey Roudil³, Olivier Le Bihan⁴, Fleur Delva⁵, Aude Lacourt⁶

Affiliations

¹ University of Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH, UMR1219, EPICENE Team, Bordeaux 33000, France; Bordeaux University Hospital, Environmental and Occupational Health Department, Bordeaux 33000, France. Electronic address: sabyne.audignon@u-bordeaux.fr.
² Scientific and Technical Center for Building, Marne-La-Vallée 77447, France.
³ Bordeaux University Hospital, Environmental and Occupational Health Department, Bordeaux 33000, France.
⁴ Air Breizh, Association for Ambient Air Quality, Rennes 35 200, France.
⁵ University of Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH, UMR1219, EPICENE Team, Bordeaux 33000, France; Bordeaux University Hospital, Environmental and Occupational Health Department, Bordeaux 33000, France.
⁶ University of Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH, UMR1219, EPICENE Team, Bordeaux 33000, France.

PMID: 37690752
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166947

Abstract

Ultrafine particles (< 100 nm) are of increasing concern because of their toxicological potential. Emission processes suggest their presence in all environments, including at home, where particularly at-risk populations may be exposed. However, knowledge of their impact on health is still limited, due to difficulties in properly assessing exposure in epidemiological studies. In this context, the objective of this study was to provide a complete summary of indoor exposure to ultrafine particles in highly industrialised countries by examining the domestic activities that influence such exposure. We conducted a systematic review, according to PRISMA guidelines using PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus up to and including 2021. We carried out a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the selected studies with a standardised template. Exposure circumstances, measurement methods, and results were analysed. Finally, a meta-analysis of the measured concentrations was performed to study exposure levels during domestic activities. The review included 69 studies resulting in the analysis of 346 exposure situations. Nine main groups of activities were identified: cooking, which was the most studied, smoking, the use of air-fresheners, cleaning, heating, personal care, printing, do-it-yourself activities, and others. Over 50 different processes were involved in these activities. Based on available particle number concentrations, the highest average of mean concentrations was associated with grilling (14,400 × 10³ cm^-3), and the lowest with wood stove (18 × 10³ cm^-3). The highest average of peak concentrations was that for the use of hair dryers (695 × 10³ cm^-3), and the lowest for the use of air cleaners (11 × 10³ cm^-3). A hierarchy of domestic activities and related processes leading to ultrafine particle exposure is provided, along with average exposure concentrations at home. However, more extensive measurement campaigns are needed under real-life conditions to improve assessments of indoor exposure to ultrafine particles.

Keywords: Exposure; Indoor air; Measurement; Nanoparticle; Ultrafine particle.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review
Review

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution, Indoor* / analysis
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Particle Size
Particulate Matter / analysis

Substances

Particulate Matter
Air Pollutants