Front-Door Concentrations and Personal Exposures of Danish Children to Nitrogen Dioxide

Abstract

The aims of the study were to evaluate the front-door concentration of traffic exhaust fumes as a surrogate for the personal exposure of children and to study factors in the behavior and the environment of children that affect their personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)). The exposure to NO(2) of 103 children living in Copenhagen and 101 children living in rural areas of Denmark was studied by measuring average concentrations over 1 week with diffusive badge samplers placed outside the front door of the home, inside the child's bedroom, and on each child. Detailed information about the activities of the children involving potential exposure to NO(2) was noted in diaries. The results indicated that the front-door concentration of traffic pollution might be used to classify the personal exposure of urban children, although misclassification would be introduced. Multiple regression analysis showed several factors that affected the personal NO(2) exposure of the children independently, including the front-door concentration, the bedroom concentration, time spent outdoors, gas appliances used at home, passive smoking, and burning candles.