Personal exposure to equivalent black carbon in children in Milan, Italy: Time-activity patterns and predictors by season

Environ Pollut. 2021 Apr 1:274:116530. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116530. Epub 2021 Jan 20.

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/m3 and 3.9 ± 3.3 μg/m3 (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.

Keywords: Black carbon; Children; Exposure modelling; Participatory research; Personal monitoring; Time-activity pattern.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants* / analysis
  • Carbon
  • Child
  • Cities
  • Environmental Exposure / analysis
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Particulate Matter / analysis
  • Seasons

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter
  • Carbon