Estimation of personal exposure to fine particles (PM                         2.5                         ) of ambient origin for healthy adults in Hong Kong

Xiao Cui Chen; Judith C. Chow; Tony J. Ward; Jun Ji Cao; Shun Cheng Lee; John G. Watson; Ngar Cheung Lau; Steve H.L. Yim; Kin Fai Ho

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.088

Estimation of personal exposure to fine particles (PM _2.5 ) of ambient origin for healthy adults in Hong Kong

Xiao Cui Chen
, Judith C. Chow
, Tony J. Ward
, Jun Ji Cao
, Shun Cheng Lee
, John G. Watson
, Ngar Cheung Lau
, Steve H.L. Yim
, Kin Fai Ho

School of Public and Community Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

Personal exposure and ambient fine particles (PM _2.5 ) measurements for 13 adult subjects (ages 19–57) were conducted in Hong Kong between April 2014 and June 2015. Six to 21 personal samples (mean = 19) per subject were obtained throughout the study period. Samples were analyzed for mass by gravimetric analysis, and 19 elements (from Na to Pb) were analyzed using X-Ray Fluorescence. Higher subject-specific correlations between personal and ambient sulfur (r _s = 0.92; p < 0.001) were found as compared to PM _2.5 mass (r _s = 0.79; p < 0.001) and other elements (0.06 < r _s < 0.86). Personal vs. ambient sulfur regression yielded an average exposure factor (F _pex ) of 0.73 ± 0.02, supporting the use of sulfur as a surrogate to estimate personal exposure to PM _2.5 of ambient origin (E _a ). E _a accounted for 41–82% and 57–73% of total personal PM _2.5 exposures (P) by season and by subject, respectively. The importance of both E _a and non-ambient exposures (E _na , 11.2 ± 5.6 μg/m ³ ; 32.5 ± 10.9%) are noted. Mixed-effects models were applied to estimate the relationships between ambient PM _2.5 concentrations and their corresponding exposure variables (E _a , P). Higher correlations for E _a (0.90; p < 0.001) than for P (0.58; p < 0.01) were found. A calibration coefficient < 1 suggests an attenuation of 22% (ranging 16–28%) of the true effect estimates when using average ambient concentrations at central monitoring stations as surrogates for E _a . Stationary ambient data can be used to assess population exposure only if PM exposure is dominated by E _a .

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	514-524
Number of pages	11
Journal	Science of the Total Environment
Volume	654
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.088
State	Published - Mar 1 2019

Funding

This study was jointly supported by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (contract number 13-04909 ) and the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (grant number 412413 ). Xiao-Cui Chen acknowledges the Vice-Chancellor's Discretionary Fund of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (project No. 4930744). The authors would like to thank Chi-Sing Chan for laboratory assistance. Dr. Hung-Chak Ho, Dr. Ming Luo, and Ms. Ho-Yee Poon provided valuable technical guidance. We thank the reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions.

Funders	Funder number
13-04909
412413
Chinese University of Hong Kong	4930744

Keywords

Ambient concentration
Exposure factor
Exposure measurement error
Fine particles exposure of ambient origin
Personal exposure

Access to Document

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.088

Cite this

Chen, X. C., Chow, J. C., Ward, T. J., Cao, J. J., Lee, S. C., Watson, J. G., Lau, N. C., Yim, S. H. L., & Ho, K. F. (2019). Estimation of personal exposure to fine particles (PM _2.5 ) of ambient origin for healthy adults in Hong Kong Science of the Total Environment, 654, 514-524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.088

@article{0c7a686fc399402092501880e428c203,

title = " Estimation of personal exposure to fine particles (PM 2.5 ) of ambient origin for healthy adults in Hong Kong ",

abstract = " Personal exposure and ambient fine particles (PM 2.5 ) measurements for 13 adult subjects (ages 19–57) were conducted in Hong Kong between April 2014 and June 2015. Six to 21 personal samples (mean = 19) per subject were obtained throughout the study period. Samples were analyzed for mass by gravimetric analysis, and 19 elements (from Na to Pb) were analyzed using X-Ray Fluorescence. Higher subject-specific correlations between personal and ambient sulfur (r s = 0.92; p < 0.001) were found as compared to PM 2.5 mass (r s = 0.79; p < 0.001) and other elements (0.06 < r s < 0.86). Personal vs. ambient sulfur regression yielded an average exposure factor (F pex ) of 0.73 ± 0.02, supporting the use of sulfur as a surrogate to estimate personal exposure to PM 2.5 of ambient origin (E a ). E a accounted for 41–82\% and 57–73\% of total personal PM 2.5 exposures (P) by season and by subject, respectively. The importance of both E a and non-ambient exposures (E na , 11.2 ± 5.6 μg/m 3 ; 32.5 ± 10.9\%) are noted. Mixed-effects models were applied to estimate the relationships between ambient PM 2.5 concentrations and their corresponding exposure variables (E a , P). Higher correlations for E a (0.90; p < 0.001) than for P (0.58; p < 0.01) were found. A calibration coefficient < 1 suggests an attenuation of 22\% (ranging 16–28\%) of the true effect estimates when using average ambient concentrations at central monitoring stations as surrogates for E a . Stationary ambient data can be used to assess population exposure only if PM exposure is dominated by E a .",

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author = "Chen, \{Xiao Cui\} and Chow, \{Judith C.\} and Ward, \{Tony J.\} and Cao, \{Jun Ji\} and Lee, \{Shun Cheng\} and Watson, \{John G.\} and Lau, \{Ngar Cheung\} and Yim, \{Steve H.L.\} and Ho, \{Kin Fai\}",

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Chen, XC, Chow, JC, Ward, TJ, Cao, JJ, Lee, SC, Watson, JG, Lau, NC, Yim, SHL & Ho, KF 2019, ' Estimation of personal exposure to fine particles (PM _2.5 ) of ambient origin for healthy adults in Hong Kong ', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 654, pp. 514-524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.088

Estimation of personal exposure to fine particles (PM _2.5 ) of ambient origin for healthy adults in Hong Kong . / Chen, Xiao Cui; Chow, Judith C.; Ward, Tony J. et al.
In: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 654, 01.03.2019, p. 514-524.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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AU - Chen, Xiao Cui

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AU - Ward, Tony J.

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AU - Lee, Shun Cheng

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N2 - Personal exposure and ambient fine particles (PM 2.5 ) measurements for 13 adult subjects (ages 19–57) were conducted in Hong Kong between April 2014 and June 2015. Six to 21 personal samples (mean = 19) per subject were obtained throughout the study period. Samples were analyzed for mass by gravimetric analysis, and 19 elements (from Na to Pb) were analyzed using X-Ray Fluorescence. Higher subject-specific correlations between personal and ambient sulfur (r s = 0.92; p < 0.001) were found as compared to PM 2.5 mass (r s = 0.79; p < 0.001) and other elements (0.06 < r s < 0.86). Personal vs. ambient sulfur regression yielded an average exposure factor (F pex ) of 0.73 ± 0.02, supporting the use of sulfur as a surrogate to estimate personal exposure to PM 2.5 of ambient origin (E a ). E a accounted for 41–82% and 57–73% of total personal PM 2.5 exposures (P) by season and by subject, respectively. The importance of both E a and non-ambient exposures (E na , 11.2 ± 5.6 μg/m 3 ; 32.5 ± 10.9%) are noted. Mixed-effects models were applied to estimate the relationships between ambient PM 2.5 concentrations and their corresponding exposure variables (E a , P). Higher correlations for E a (0.90; p < 0.001) than for P (0.58; p < 0.01) were found. A calibration coefficient < 1 suggests an attenuation of 22% (ranging 16–28%) of the true effect estimates when using average ambient concentrations at central monitoring stations as surrogates for E a . Stationary ambient data can be used to assess population exposure only if PM exposure is dominated by E a .

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