Relationship between Indoor High Frequency Size Distribution of Ultrafine Particles and Their Metrics in a University Site

Abstract

Exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs size < 100 nm) in life and work environments can contribute to adverse health effects also in terms of health burden of related diseases over time. The choice of parameters which better characterize UFPs is challenging, due to their physical-chemical properties and their variable size. It is also strictly related to the availability of different instrumental techniques. In the present study we focus on real time high frequency (1 Hz) UFPs particle size distribution (PSD) and their relationship with total particle number concentration (TPNC) and mean particle diameter (Davg) as a contribution characterizing by size the human exposure to UFPs in an indoor site of the University of Rome “Sapienza” (Italy). Further considerations about UFPs contribution to nucleation mode (NM) and accumulation mode (AM) have been highlighted, also in order to investigate the contribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) surface-adsorbed on indoor air particles (pPAHs). High indoor TPNC values were registered during the rush hours (early morning and mid/late afternoon) according to the outdoor influences originated from anthropogenic activities. AM mainly contribute to the indoor TPNC during working days showing high correlation with pPAHs. These findings may provide useful indications in terms of occupational exposure to UFPs since there are many evidences that indoor exposures to such pollutants may be associated with adverse health effects also in working environments.

Impacts of Household Coal Combustion on Indoor Ultrafine Particles—A Preliminary Case Study and Implication on Exposure Reduction

“…After the evening rush hour, the particle number concentration began to decline and reached the minimum at 3:00, which was consistent with observations by Buonanno et al (2013) in public schools in Italy [45]. During the next day, particle number concentrations gradually increased because of emissions during the morning rush hours and stronger photochemical reactions under solar radiation [49][50][51][52]. Indoor UFP concentrations were significantly influenced by outdoor air and changed simultaneously.…”

Occupational Exposure to Silica Nanoparticles: Evaluation of Emission Fingerprints by Laboratory Simulations

“…The two-dimensional distributions are represented by two main contributions that show a substantially bimodal distribution. The first contribution, common to both distributions, is in the 6-10 nm range, known in the literature as the nucleation mode fraction, which is characteristic of chemical reactions between elements such as NO x , SO 2 , O 3 , NH 3 , VOCs [27] present in the atmosphere, while the second contribution stands out in the two size profiles. In the background it falls out of the 60-100 nm range and it may be attributed to the outdoor emissions contribution due to vehicular traffic and in particular to the fraction concerning the accumulation mode [27,28].…”

Occupational Exposure during the Production and the Spray Deposition of Graphene Nanoplatelets-Based Polymeric Coatings

“…The exposure measurements were conducted by using a multi-metric approach-one of the consensus methods adopted throughout the recently published literature [35][36][37]-and follow the harmonized tiered approach published by the Organization for Economic Coop-eration and Development (OECD) [38,39]. This approach allows the evaluation of multiple exposure data collected by using a combination of direct reading measurement methods and morphological and elemental analysis of airborne sampled materials.…”