Measuring Personal Environmental Exposures Using a Wearable Air Pollutant Monitor

Abstract

Traditional personal air pollutant monitoring systems include backpacks containing hand-held air monitors and filters/pumps which are worn for several days. Given the size, weight and cost of these sampling systems, use with vulnerable populations (i.e. pregnant women, infants) is not feasible. There has been limited development of analytical techniques to capture the cumulative exposure of an individuals to multiple air pollutants. New exposure assessment tools are required to better study longitudinal environmental exposures. We have developed the Fresh Air wristband to profile personal organic air pollutant exposures using a non-selective passive sampling technique. Pollutants are collected onto a sorbent bar housed within a silicone wristband. The sorbent bar is coated with a thin-film polymer substrate which accumulates non-polar air pollutants with a log Kow ranging between 4 and 8. The wristband is worn by an individual for a multi-day period and then analysed using high resolution gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry with thermal desorption. With this personal exposure assessment tool, we can quantify the time-weighted averages of exposure to a panel of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds during typical daily activities without impairing motion. We will present data on the functionality of the Fresh Air wristband as a non-selective passive air pollutant sampler. Application of this new personal exposure assessment tool in a cohort of 60 school-aged children residing in Springfield, MA will further be discussed. Improved assessment of exposure using the Fresh Air wristband across life stages (pregnancy, infancy, childhood) has the potential to produce a more comprehensive understanding of the air pollutants that mediate adverse health.