Abstract
Environmental epidemiological studies have consistently reported associations between ambient particulate matter (PM) concentrations and everyday mortality/morbidity. Many urban dwellers in Asia live in high-rise apartment buildings; thus, the pollutant concentrations of their immediate outdoor environments are affected by the vertical distribution of pollutants in the atmosphere. The vertical distributions of pollutants provide unique information about their sources and dynamic transport in urban areas, as well as their relationship to people’s exposure at ground level, while the vertical distributions of pollutants have rarely been considered in exposure assessment. In the current study, PM concentrations (with aerodynamic diameters less than 1.0 μm (PM1), 2.5 μm (PM2.5), and 10 μm (PM10)), nanoparticles, black carbon (BC), and particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (p-PAHs) were measured at different residential heights—6 m, 16 m, and 27 m—at Feng Chia University near a popular night market in Western Taiwan. PM2.5 data were further adopted for health risk estimations. In winter, the magnitude of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 concentrations were 16 m > 6 m > 27 m; nanoparticle concentrations were 6 m > 27 m > 16 m; and BC and p-PAHs concentrations were 27 m > 16 m > 6 m. In summer, PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 concentrations ranged from 6 m > 16 m > 27 m; nanoparticle concentrations were 6 m > 16 m; and BC and p-PAHs concentrations were from 27 m > 16 m. PM and constituents concentrations during winter were significantly higher in the nighttime than those in daytime, and levels of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 increased rapidly on 6 m and 16 m heights (but did not increase at 27 m) after 5 pm, whereas these trends became less significant in summer. Health risk analysis for PM2.5 concentrations showed a decrease in lung cancer mortality rate and an extended lifespan for residents living at 27 m. Overall, the current study investigated the vertical profile of particulate matters and analyzed health impacts of PM2.5 at different residential heights in urban area of Taiwan. As the distributions of PM and the constituents varied at different residential heights, exposure and risk assessment of particle concentrations with multiple sizes and various components at broader vertical heights should be further investigated.
Highlights
As economic development increases, urban air quality decreases because of the increasing air pollution produced by industries, automobiles, and other human activity-based emission sources.In 2013, outdoor air pollution, especially outdoor particulate matter (PM), was classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World HealthOrganization (WHO)
After 5 pm, levels of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 increased rapidly on 6 m and 16 m heights, but did not increase at 27 m. These results indicated that people living above 27 m might be exposed to less PM from local emission sources
Variation of PM2.5 at 16 m height as compared to those those at at 66m mdrove drovethe thefinal finaldistribution distributionofofexcess excesslung lung cancer risk accounting to cancer risk at at m,m, accounting forfor of of the variance, while of lung cancer from different studies accounted
Summary
Urban air quality decreases because of the increasing air pollution produced by industries, automobiles, and other human activity-based emission sources.In 2013, outdoor air pollution, especially outdoor particulate matter (PM), was classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World HealthOrganization (WHO). Urban air quality decreases because of the increasing air pollution produced by industries, automobiles, and other human activity-based emission sources. In 2013, outdoor air pollution, especially outdoor particulate matter (PM), was classified as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health. Global air pollution reports showed that over 95% of the world’s population lived in areas that exceeded the air quality guideline of PM with aerodynamic diameter less than. 2.5 μm (PM2.5 ; fine particulate matter), and that nearly 60% lived in areas that did not meet even the least stringent air quality target from WHO [1]. Air pollution from PM, ozone (O3 ), and household burning of solid fuels might have contributed to 6.1 million deaths (11% of the global total) in 2016 [1]. Black carbon (BC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals are constituents of PM, which are mainly derived from traffic emissions, activities of combustion, and anthropogenic as well as biomass burning emissions [2,3,4]
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