Indoor and Outdoor Levels and Sources of Submicron Particles (PM₁) at Homes in Edmonton, Canada

Abstract

Exposure to submicron particles (PM1) is of interest due to their possible chronic and acute health effects. Seven consecutive 24-h PM1 samples were collected during winter and summer 2010 in a total of 74 nonsmoking homes in Edmonton, Canada. Median winter concentrations of PM1 were 2.2 μg/m(3) (interquartile range, IQR = 0.8-6.1 μg/m(3)) and 3.3 μg/m(3) (IQR = 1.5-6.9 μg/m(3)) for indoors and outdoors, respectively. In the summer, indoor (median 4.4 μg/m(3), IQR = 2.4-8.6 μg/m(3)) and outdoor (median 4.3 μg/m(3), IQR = 2.6-7.4 μg/m(3)) levels were similar. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied to identify and apportion indoor and outdoor sources of elements in PM1 mass. Nine sources contributing to both indoor and outdoor PM1 concentrations were identified including secondary sulfate, soil, biomass smoke and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), traffic, settled and mixed dust, coal combustion, road salt/road dust, and urban mixture. Three additional indoor sources were identified i.e., carpet dust, copper-rich, and silver-rich. Secondary sulfate, soil, biomass smoke and ETS contributed more than 70% (indoors: 0.29 μg/m(3), outdoors: 0.39 μg/m(3)) of measured elemental mass in PM1. These findings can aid understanding of relationships between submicron particles and health outcomes for indoor/outdoor sources.

Lead and zinc concentrations in household dust and toenails of the residents (Estarreja, Portugal): a source-pathway-fate model

“…(3) Multivariate analysis performed in a PCA-CA-LDA sequence separated three groups of household dust samples having distinct characteristics: (i) one group comprising the majority of the outdoor dust samples with a chemical signature (As, Mo) typical of crustal sources; (ii) one group comprising the majority of the indoor dust samples, impacted by biomass burning and mixed anthropogenic sources (Bi, Cu, Cd, Sb, Sn, Hg, Zn, W, Ca) with contributions from sea salts (Na, K) and mineral dust/soil (B), and; (iii) one group made up of both indoor and outdoor dust with a chemical signature indicative of biomass burning (Pb, Se). (4) Stepwise MLR indicates that Zn and Sb concentrations in the indoor dust are the predictor variables for toenail Zn contents. Given the likelihood of a rst-order linear autocorrelation in our multiple linear regression data, the statistical model obtained for toenail Pb was considered unreliable.…”

“…Various sources have been reported for Group I PTEs, including biomass burning, vehicular traffic (non-exhaust sources such as brake wear, lubricating oils and corrosion of galvanised vehicular parts), cooking fumes, and industrial activities. 4,[71][72][73][74][75] However, given their association with elements such as nickel (Ni), sodium (Na), and especially K (Table S3 †), the most likely are smoke-related sources such as cooking, wood burning in stoves and replaces, agriculture waste burning and res occurring in forested areas. 4,65,76 Whilst wood burning particulate matter emissions are one of the major emitters of K + , 65,76,77 the identication of a biomass burning source is usually possible only through the combined use of levoglucosan and K + data because non-biomass burning sources may contribute signicantly to atmospheric K + .…”

“…4,[71][72][73][74][75] However, given their association with elements such as nickel (Ni), sodium (Na), and especially K (Table S3 †), the most likely are smoke-related sources such as cooking, wood burning in stoves and replaces, agriculture waste burning and res occurring in forested areas. 4,65,76 Whilst wood burning particulate matter emissions are one of the major emitters of K + , 65,76,77 the identication of a biomass burning source is usually possible only through the combined use of levoglucosan and K + data because non-biomass burning sources may contribute signicantly to atmospheric K + . 78 Puxbaum et al (2007) have found for Aveiro, a coastal city only 15 km further south from Estarreja, high levels of atmospheric levoglucosan that were interpreted as being associated with the use of wood for domestic heating that is common in north Portugal, forest res, burning of agricultural and garden waste, and cooking, 79 which is in agreement with a biomass burning source for Group I PTEs.…”

“…While a large body of literature is devoted to suspended particulate matter in the indoor environment, [3][4][5][6][7] to date, fewer studies have focused on the characterisation of indoor dust deposited in the oor from residential homes, which is commonly designated as household dust. 8,9 However, incidental ingestion of household dust is an important non-dietary pathway for some hazardous substances leading to potential health risks, especially for children.…”

Seasonal Variability of Airborne Particulate Matter and Bacterial Concentrations in Colorado Homes

“…Dust resuspension tends to emit more mass in the super-micron size range than the submicron range. Indoor particulate source apportionment studies indicate that road dust, soil dust, vehicle emissions, biomass burning, road salts, secondary inorganics, and organic matter from various emission/transport processes are common sources of indoor particulates [12][13][14]. Many of these particles originate outside and infiltrate into the home, while cooking and burning biomass are important indoor sources of organic particulate matter (PM) [5,15].…”