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Assessing school children's personal exposure to PM2.5 in Suva, Fiji
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0350-6093
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3114-2559
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7006-3646
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4923-7397
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0594-9683
Abstract Globally, there is little information on children's personal exposure to particle pollution in developing countries, and hardly any in the Pacific Island Countries. This study was conducted with school children in Suva, Fiji, with the aim of assisting to fill this gap in knowledge. The participants included eighty-four children ranging from 10 to 15 years of age from five schools and two communities, defined as Group A and Group B, respectively. Each child was fitted with a KOALA air quality monitor which measured PM2.5 and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in real time over 24 h. Time activity diaries (TAD) and questionnaires were used by the students to record the start and end times of each activity in the different microenvironments occupied. For both groups, the PM2.5 concentration averaged over all children showed three distinct peaks in the morning, midday and in the evening. Several CO peaks were formed at different times of the day. The 24-h average CO concentrations for Group A and Group B students were 0.35 mg/m3 and 0.43 mg/m3, respectively. Time spent in the bedroom showed the highest average exposure (94.3 μg/m3, 301.1 μg/m3) and exposure intensity (5.8, 14.3), with the indoor exposure at home being significantly higher than the outdoor exposure for both groups. Based on the information obtained from the time activity diaries, questionnaires and follow-up interviews, the sources of these particles were most probably from cooking, smoking, burning of mosquito repellent coils, resuspension of dust in the classroom. Although this study could not apportion the specific contributions of emissions from cooking, cigarette smoke and mosquito coils, it may be concluded that these are significant sources for children's exposure and should be controlled.
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights Real-time 24-h personal exposure to PM2.5 and CO of school children was measured. Children's daily time was divided into seven different microenvironments. The contribution of various microenvironments to total exposure was estimated. The highest average personal exposure was in the bedroom microenvironment. Exposure intensity at home was higher than in school.
Assessing school children's personal exposure to PM2.5 in Suva, Fiji
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0350-6093
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3114-2559
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7006-3646
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4923-7397
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0594-9683
Abstract Globally, there is little information on children's personal exposure to particle pollution in developing countries, and hardly any in the Pacific Island Countries. This study was conducted with school children in Suva, Fiji, with the aim of assisting to fill this gap in knowledge. The participants included eighty-four children ranging from 10 to 15 years of age from five schools and two communities, defined as Group A and Group B, respectively. Each child was fitted with a KOALA air quality monitor which measured PM2.5 and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in real time over 24 h. Time activity diaries (TAD) and questionnaires were used by the students to record the start and end times of each activity in the different microenvironments occupied. For both groups, the PM2.5 concentration averaged over all children showed three distinct peaks in the morning, midday and in the evening. Several CO peaks were formed at different times of the day. The 24-h average CO concentrations for Group A and Group B students were 0.35 mg/m3 and 0.43 mg/m3, respectively. Time spent in the bedroom showed the highest average exposure (94.3 μg/m3, 301.1 μg/m3) and exposure intensity (5.8, 14.3), with the indoor exposure at home being significantly higher than the outdoor exposure for both groups. Based on the information obtained from the time activity diaries, questionnaires and follow-up interviews, the sources of these particles were most probably from cooking, smoking, burning of mosquito repellent coils, resuspension of dust in the classroom. Although this study could not apportion the specific contributions of emissions from cooking, cigarette smoke and mosquito coils, it may be concluded that these are significant sources for children's exposure and should be controlled.
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights Real-time 24-h personal exposure to PM2.5 and CO of school children was measured. Children's daily time was divided into seven different microenvironments. The contribution of various microenvironments to total exposure was estimated. The highest average personal exposure was in the bedroom microenvironment. Exposure intensity at home was higher than in school.
Assessing school children's personal exposure to PM2.5 in Suva, Fiji
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0350-6093
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3114-2559
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7006-3646
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4923-7397
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0594-9683
Abstract Globally, there is little information on children's personal exposure to particle pollution in developing countries, and hardly any in the Pacific Island Countries. This study was conducted with school children in Suva, Fiji, with the aim of assisting to fill this gap in knowledge. The participants included eighty-four children ranging from 10 to 15 years of age from five schools and two communities, defined as Group A and Group B, respectively. Each child was fitted with a KOALA air quality monitor which measured PM2.5 and carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations in real time over 24 h. Time activity diaries (TAD) and questionnaires were used by the students to record the start and end times of each activity in the different microenvironments occupied. For both groups, the PM2.5 concentration averaged over all children showed three distinct peaks in the morning, midday and in the evening. Several CO peaks were formed at different times of the day. The 24-h average CO concentrations for Group A and Group B students were 0.35 mg/m3 and 0.43 mg/m3, respectively. Time spent in the bedroom showed the highest average exposure (94.3 μg/m3, 301.1 μg/m3) and exposure intensity (5.8, 14.3), with the indoor exposure at home being significantly higher than the outdoor exposure for both groups. Based on the information obtained from the time activity diaries, questionnaires and follow-up interviews, the sources of these particles were most probably from cooking, smoking, burning of mosquito repellent coils, resuspension of dust in the classroom. Although this study could not apportion the specific contributions of emissions from cooking, cigarette smoke and mosquito coils, it may be concluded that these are significant sources for children's exposure and should be controlled.
Graphical abstract Display Omitted
Highlights Real-time 24-h personal exposure to PM2.5 and CO of school children was measured. Children's daily time was divided into seven different microenvironments. The contribution of various microenvironments to total exposure was estimated. The highest average personal exposure was in the bedroom microenvironment. Exposure intensity at home was higher than in school.
Assessing school children's personal exposure to PM2.5 in Suva, Fiji
Pradhan, Basant (author) / Singh, Kimberly (author) / Jayaratne, Rohan (author) / Thompson, Helen (author) / Jagals, Paul (author) / Gucake, Jone (author) / Hilly, Jimmy Jaghoro (author) / Turagabeci, Amelia (author) / Morawska, Lidia (author)
Atmospheric Environment ; 325
2024-03-07
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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