Mapping Particulate Air Pollution (PM2.5) Dispersion by Biomonitoring in Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Background: Health effects of particulate air pollution observed in numerous studies include increased respiratory symptoms, decreased lung function and more. Most urban networks have a few monitoring sites only, the data are sparse have been shown to be poor surrogates of personal exposure. Measurement by biomonitoring allows the most health-relevant assessment of exposure, since it gives information about existence of materials, and their direct influence. Induced sputum (IS) has a clinical meaningful through the image of mediators cells of the airway can be mapped. Research interests: (1) Mapping particulate air pollution dispersion by particle size distribution in IS micro and nanometer range in Tel-Aviv metropolitan area, compare to the environmental mapping. (2) To correlate between environmental conditions and biological parameters. (3) Determine the range of representation environmental monitors by biomonitoring means. Methods: Study group Adults >18 years old that were referred to the Pulmonary Lab for respiratory symptoms evaluation in 2007, 2009. Pulmonary function tests (PFT) were done by conventional methods. Particle Size Distribution Analysis of IS particulate matter was done by DAPI 2000 Analyzer (Donner Tech, Israel) maps of air pollution were created by Geographic Information System. Results:(1) Mapping air pollution map based on IS's results enable to map a wide area with higher resolution (2) Relations between high percent of small particles in IS found in patients with abnormal lungs functions that live in front apartment. (3) There is no correlation between environmental stations' data and biological parameters. Conclusion: (1) Accumulation of small particles in respiratory influence lung's healthcondition. (2) The biological monitoring allows a higher resolution on the environmental conditions, but bigger population is necessary (3) Integration both types environmental and biological data should determine the public health policy.