Personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and self-reported asthma-related health

• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116293
• Publication Date: 2023-10-06T15:29:54Z
• Authors: Amy McCarron; Sean Semple; Christine F. Braban; Colin Gillespie; Vivien Swanson; Heather D. Price
• Keywords: Fine particulate matter; Adult; Air Pollutants; air pollution; Air pollution; 610; Environmental Exposure; asthma; 16. Peace & justice; 01 natural sciences; Asthma; 3. Good health; Personal exposure; personal exposure; fine particulate matter; Scotland; Air Pollution; 11. Sustainability; Humans; Particulate Matter; Self Report; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

PM2.5 (fine particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter) is a key pollutant that can produce acute asthma exacerbations and longer-term deterioration of respiratory health. Individual exposure to unique varies across microenvironments. Low-cost sensors (LCS) collect data at spatiotemporal resolution previously unattainable, allowing the study exposures The aim this investigate effects personal on self-reported asthma-related Twenty-eight non-smoking adults with living Scotland collected using LCS. Measurements were made 2-min time for period 7 days as participants conducted their typical daily routines. Concurrently, asked keep detailed time-activity diary, logging activities microenvironments, along hourly information health medication use. Health outcomes modelled function concentration (plus 1- 2-h lag) generalized mixed-effects models adjusted temperature relative humidity. Personal varied largest average microenvironmental observed private residences (11.5 ± 48.6 μg/m3) lowest work microenvironment (2.9 11.3 μg/m3). most frequently reported symptoms, wheezing, chest tightness cough, 3.4%, 1.6% participant-hours, respectively. odds reporting symptoms increased per interquartile range (IQR) (odds ratio (OR) 1.29, 95% CI 1.07–1.54) same-hour exposure. Despite this, no association was between reliever inhaler use (non-routine, non-exercise related) (OR 1.02, 0.71–1.48). Current air quality monitoring practices are inadequate detect symptom prevalence resulting from exposure; these requires high-resolution situ. could have significant implications self-management clinical practice.