Personal exposure monitoring to environment-related factors during early life and childhood

Abstract

Introduction: Environmental exposures are widely known determinants for people's health, but particularly crucial during early life and childhood. Therefore, by using personal time-integrated and time-resolved monitors, the present study aims to characterize the variance in the environmental exposure of pregnant women and children in Europe. Methods: A total of 150 children (aged 6-9) and 150 pregnant women were continuously monitored during two separated normal weeks. The monitoring kit included: (i) a smartphone for noise and built environment exposure; (ii) a dosimeter (ScienTerra) for ultraviolet exposure; (iii) three battery-operated pumps (BGI-400-4) for personal, home indoor and home outdoor particulate matter (PM) exposure; and (iv) a microaethalometer (AE51) for black carbon (BC) exposure. The two latter devices were only used during the last monitoring day. Variance components models were used to assess the variance of environmental exposure attributable to city and individual level. Results: The median personal exposure and interquartile range to BC, and PM2.5 concentration and absorbance was 0.8(1.2) µg•m-3, 13.3(10.1) µg•m-3 and 1.5(1.6) 10-5 m-1, respectively. The ultraviolet exposure duration and intensity was 26(39) min•day-1 and 23(21) mW•m-2, respectively. The correlation between BC and PM2.5 concentration and absorbance was (ρ=0.45; p<0.001) and (ρ=0.81; p<0.001), respectively. The correlation between personal, and home indoor and outdoor exposure to PM2.5 absorbance was (ρ>0.7; p<0.001). The variance components analysis of the personal environmental exposure showed that differences between cities, between participants, and within participants explained 35, 25, and 40% of the total variance. Conclusions: Our findings reflect the effect of the activities performed upon the personal environmental exposure and the need to monitor individuals for at least a week to capture their weekly behavior pattern.