Land Use Regression Models for Ultrafine Particles in Six European Areas

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b05920
• Publication Date: 2017-02-28T14:09:30Z
• Authors: Erik van Nunen; Roel Vermeulen; Ming-Yi Tsai; Nicole Probst-Hensch; Alex Ineichen; Mark Davey; Medea Imboden; Regina Ducret-Stich; Alessio Naccarati; Daniela Raffaele; Andrea Ranzi; Cristiana Ivaldi; Claudia Galassi; Mark Nieuwenhuijsen; Ariadna Curto; David Donaire-Gon...; Marta Cirach; Leda Chatzi; Mariza Kampouri; Jelle Vlaanderen; Kees Meliefste; Daan Buijtenhuijs; Bert Brunekreef; David Morley; Paolo Vineis; John Gulliver; Gerard Hoek
• Keywords: Technology; NUMBER CONCENTRATIONS; Environmental Sciences & Ecology; NO2; 310; Partícules (Matèria); 01 natural sciences; Environmental; Engineering; Theoretical; Models; PARTICULATE MATTER; Air Pollution; MD Multidisciplinary; Anàlisi de regressió; SPATIAL VARIATION; INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT; NITROGEN-DIOXIDE; SDG 15 - Life on Land; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences; Air Pollutants; Science & Technology; Engineering, Environmental; ESCAPE PROJECT; AIR-POLLUTION; Models, Theoretical; 15. Life on land; Particles; PM2.5 ABSORBENCY; BLACK CARBON; Particulate Matter; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Regression analysis; Environmental Sciences; Environmental Monitoring

Long-term ultrafine particle (UFP) exposure estimates at a fine spatial scale are needed for epidemiological studies. Land use regression (LUR) models were developed and evaluated for six European areas based on repeated 30 min monitoring following standardized protocols. In each area; Basel (Switzerland), Heraklion (Greece), Amsterdam, Maastricht, and Utrecht ("The Netherlands"), Norwich (United Kingdom), Sabadell (Spain), and Turin (Italy), 160-240 sites were monitored to develop LUR models by supervised stepwise selection of GIS predictors. For each area and all areas combined, 10 models were developed in stratified random selections of 90% of sites. UFP prediction robustness was evaluated with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) at 31-50 external sites per area. Models from Basel and The Netherlands were validated against repeated 24 h outdoor measurements. Structure and model R2 of local models were similar within, but varied between areas (e.g., 38-43% Turin; 25-31% Sabadell). Robustness of predictions within areas was high (ICC 0.73-0.98). External validation R2 was 53% in Basel and 50% in The Netherlands. Combined area models were robust (ICC 0.93-1.00) and explained UFP variation almost equally well as local models. In conclusion, robust UFP LUR models could be developed on short-term monitoring, explaining around 50% of spatial variance in longer-term measurements.