Measuring personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) among rural Honduran women: A field evaluation of the Ultrasonic Personal Aerosol Sampler (UPAS)

Environ Int. 2019 Feb:123:50-53. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.11.014. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Abstract

We measured 24-hour average personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) among rural Honduran women using a lightweight, gravimetric monitor - the Ultrasonic Personal Aerosol Sampler (UPAS). Performance of the UPAS was compared with a commonly used gravimetric pump, cyclone, and filter sampling system. We observed strong agreement and correlation (Spearman ρ = 0.91; PM2.5 concentration range: 19-120 μg/m3) between 43 paired measures, supporting the use of the UPAS as a personal exposure monitor for household air pollution studies.

Keywords: Gravimetric analysis; Honduras; Household air pollution; Personal exposure; Ultrasonic Personal Aerosol Sampler (UPAS).

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols / analysis*
  • Air Pollution / analysis*
  • Environmental Monitoring / instrumentation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Particulate Matter / analysis*
  • Rural Population
  • Ultrasonics
  • Wearable Electronic Devices*

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Particulate Matter