Abstract
A method of estimating distributions of exposure to respirable particles is presented. Using pollutant monitoring data from outdoors and indoors, time-activity data and a time-weighted exposure model, means and variances for exposure distributions are generated. Variances are estimated using Gauss' law of error propagation. The model is calibrated using data from a personal monitoring study. Estimated distributions of exposure to respirable particles for children in six cities living in homes with and without smokers are presented. The implications of these estimates for air pollution epidemiology and needs for further research are discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
BevingtonP. R.: 1969, Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences, McGraw-Hill, New York.
ChapinF. S.: 1974, Human Activity Patterns in the City, Wiley-Interscience, New York.
ColomeS. D., SpenglerJ. D., and McCarthyS.: 1982, ‘Comparisons of Elements and Inorganic Compounds Inside and Outside Residences’, Environ. Int. 8, 197–212.
DuanN.: 1982, ‘Models for Human Exposure to Air Pollution’, Environ. Int. 8, 305–309.
FerrisB. G.Jr., SpeizerF. E., SpenglerJ. D., DockeryD. W., BishopY. M. M., WolfsonM., and HumbleC.: 1979, ‘Effects of Sulfur Oxides and Respirable Particles on Human Health: Methodogy and Demography of Populations in Study’, Am. Rev. Resp. Dis. 120, 767–779.
FugasM.: 1975, ‘Assessment of Total Exposure to an Air Pollutant’, Proceedings of the International Conference on Environmental Sensing and Assessment, IEEE # 75-CH 1004-1 ICESA, Las Vegas, Nevada.
HaysW. L.: 1973, Statistics for the Social Sciences, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York.
KoontzM. D. and RobinsonJ. P.: 1982, ‘Population Activity Patterns-St. Louis Study’, Environ. Mon. Assess. 2, 197–212.
NAS: 1981, Indoor Pollutants, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
QuackenbossJ. J., KanarekM. S., SpenglerJ. D., and LetzR.: 1982, ‘Personal Monitoring for Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure: Methodological Considerations for a Community Study’, Environ. Int. 8, 249–258.
RyanP. B., SpenglerJ. D., and LetzR.: 1983, ‘The Effects of Kerosene Heaters on Indoor Pollutant Concentrations: A Monitoring and Modeling Study’, Atmos. Environ. 17, 1339–1345.
SextonK., LetzR., and SpenglerJ. D.: 1983, ‘Human Exposures to Nitrogen Dioxide: An Indoor/Outdoor Modeling Approach’, Environ. Res. 32, 151–166.
ShyC. M., KleinbaumD. G., and MorgensternH.: 1978, ‘The Effect of Missclassification of Exposure Status in Epidemiological Studies of Air Pollution Health Effects’, Proc. N. Y. Acad. Med. 54, 1155–1165.
SpeizerF. E., FerrisB. G.Jr., BishopY. M. M., and SpenglerJ. D.: 1980, ‘Respiratory Disease Rates and Pulmonary Function in Children Associated with NO2 Exposure’, Am. Rev. Resp. Disease 121, 3–10.
SpenglerJ. D., FerrisB. J.Jr., DockeryD. W., and SpeizerF. E.: 1979, ‘Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Dioxide Inside and Outside Homes and the Implications for Health Effects Research’, Environ. Sci. Tech. 13, 1276–1280.
Spengler, J. D., Treitman, R. D., Tosteson, T. D., and Mage, D. T.: 1981, ‘Personal Exposures to Respirable Particulates: A Tale of Two Cities-Kingston and Harriman, Tennessee’, paper presented at the International Symposium on Indoor Air Pollution, Health and Energy Conservation, Amherst, Mass.
SpenglerJ. D., DuffyC. P., LetzR., TibbitsT. W., and FerrisB. G.: 1983, ‘Nitrogen Dioxide Inside and Outside 137 Homes and Implications for Ambient Air Quality Standards and Health Effects Research’, Environ. Sci. Technol. 17, 164–168.
WallaceL. A. and OttW. R.: 1982, ‘Personal Monitors: A State-of-the-art Survey’, J. Air Poll. Control Assoc. 32, 601–610.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Letz, R., Ryan, P.B. & Spengler, J.D. Estimated distributions of personal exposure to respirable particles. Environ Monit Assess 4, 351–359 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394173
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394173