Outdoor Particulate Matter Research Articles

The influence of COVID-19 pandemic on deposited dose of outdoor particulate matter in human respiratory tract: A case study from Krakow, Southern Poland

The influence of COVID-19 pandemic on deposited dose of outdoor particulate matter in human respiratory tract: A case study from Krakow, Southern Poland

Optimizing indoor air quality: Investigating particulate matter exposure in household kitchens and source identification

AbstractIndoor environments pose a significant health risk due to exposure to particulate matter (PM), leading to various diseases and premature deaths, and raising public concerns about indoor air quality. Household kitchens are a major contributor to indoor air pollution, emitting particulate matter of varying sizes during cooking, which disperses throughout the house. Understanding the extent of PM exposure and identifying its sources is crucial. This study assesses PM presence in Kuwaiti household kitchens, measuring concentrations of different‐sized particles (PM 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10 μm) under various conditions. Measurements were taken for 24 h using a particle/mass monitor device, considering different ventilation scenarios, cooking oils, and methods. Spearman's rank correlation and indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios investigate the correlation between indoor and outdoor PM exposure. Principal component analysis (PCA) models identify specific sources contributing to PM exposure. A questionnaire survey in Kuwaiti households determines primary kitchen sources during cooking. Results show that kitchens with ventilation systems consistently reduce PM concentrations. PM emissions during cooking vary based on factors like cooking method, energy type, cooking oil, food, additives, temperature, and ventilation. The cooking stove is the primary emission source, but other household activities contribute. This study enhances our understanding of influential factors affecting cooking emissions and their concentrations, contributing valuable insights into mitigating indoor air pollution.

Exposure to outdoor particulate matter and risk of respiratory diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

According to epidemiological studies, particulate matter (PM) is an important air pollutant that poses a significant threat to human health. The relationship between particulate matter and respiratory diseases has been the subject of numerous studies, but these studies have produced inconsistent findings. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the connection between outdoor particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) exposure and respiratory disorders (COPD, lung cancer, LRIs, and COVID-19). For this purpose, we conducted a literature search between 2012 and 2022 in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Out of the 58 studies that were part of the systematic review, meta-analyses were conducted on 53 of them. A random effect model was applied separately for each category of study design to assess the pooled association between exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 and respiratory diseases. Based on time-series and cohort studies, which are the priorities of the strength of evidence, a significant relationship between the risk of respiratory diseases (COPD, lung cancer, and COVID-19) was observed (COPD: pooled HR = 1.032, 95% CI: 1.004-1.061; lung cancer: pooled HR = 1.017, 95% CI: 1.015-1.020; and COVID-19: pooled RR = 1.004, 95% CI: 1.002-1.006 per 1μg/m3 increase in PM2.5). Also, a significant relationship was observed between PM10 and respiratory diseases (COPD, LRIs, and COVID-19) based on time-series and cohort studies. Although the number of studies in this field is limited, which requires more investigations, it can be concluded that outdoor particulate matter can increase the risk of respiratory diseases.

Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality Correlation in Hospitals of Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, Iraq

People spend the vast majority of their time inside buildings, including hospitals. In the Al-Qadisiyah Governorate, seven distinct locations were chosen to assess the air quality inside and outside of hospitals. The quality of the air both indoors and outside was analyzed, examining PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10 levels, as well as HCHO, TVOC, CO2, temperature, and relative humidity. According to the results of the measurements that were carried out, the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 both inside and outside were found to be greater than the threshold limits that are specified by WHO for international standards. Moreover, the levels of formaldehyde were found to be higher than those recommended by the WHO at every site of the hospitals, with the exception of Al Hussein and the hospitals for women and children. During the spring, a strong positive association between indoor and outdoor particulate matter, total volatile organic compounds, and formaldehyde was detected. This correlation indicates that there may be serious health effects for healthcare staff and patients who are exposed to the inside settings of hospitals.

Disease costs due to outdoor ambient particulate matter pollution in Germany, 2018

Abstract Introduction In addition to the population health effects of outdoor ambient particulate matter pollution (PM2.5), estimates of the costs related to these health impacts are increasingly requested to inform policy decision-making processes. Within the UKAGEP-project the burden of disease due to PM2.5 in Germany was monetized. Methods First, the disease burden attributable to PM2.5 in Germany for the year 2018 was estimated using the Environmental Burden of Disease approach. To estimate the monetary impact of PM2.5, two approaches were followed. We applied the Value of Statistical Life (VSL) approach, using a monetary value of about 6.3 (2.4-7.2) million € attached to each death case. Further, we used the Value Of a statistical Life Year (VOLY) approach, attaching a monetary value of 58,623 (36.646-146.582) € to the loss of a life year. Statistical uncertainties in both the disease burden results and the VSL and VOLY values were considered, presenting a lower and upper estimate of the overall disease costs. Results In 2018, the overall burden of disease attributable to PM2.5 was 209,702 (194,265-391,112) Disability-Adjusted Life Years. Using the VOLY-approach, this corresponds to disease costs of about 17 (7-57) billion €. In contrast, when using the VSL-approach, the estimated 15,652 (10,390-21,466) deaths attributable to PM2.5 in this year result in disease costs of about 98 (25-124) billion €. Conclusions In comparison with other cost assessments, connecting EBD estimates with the VSL- and VOLY-approach allows to include indirect and intangible costs and not to simply focus on the disease treatment costs. The VSL-approach leads to remarkably higher costs because it does not take into account the age at the time of death and thus attaches the same monetary value to each death case. We recommend to use the VOLY-approach because it considers the remaining life expectancy. Key messages • Air pollution causes considerable disease costs in Germany. • We recommend to use the VOLY-approach because it considers the remaining life expectancy.

Linkage between Airborne Particulate Matter and Viral Pandemic COVID-19 in Bucharest.

The long-distance spreading and transport of airborne particulate matter (PM) of biogenic or chemical compounds, which are thought to be possible carriers of SARS-CoV-2 virions, can have a negative impact on the incidence and severity of COVID-19 viral disease. Considering the total Aerosol Optical Depth at 550 nm (AOD) as an atmospheric aerosol loading variable, inhalable fine PM with a diameter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) or coarse PM with a diameter ≤10 µm (PM10) during 26 February 2020-31 March 2022, and COVID-19's five waves in Romania, the current study investigates the impact of outdoor PM on the COVID-19 pandemic in Bucharest city. Through descriptive statistics analysis applied to average daily time series in situ and satellite data of PM2.5, PM10, and climate parameters, this study found decreased trends of PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations of 24.58% and 18.9%, respectively compared to the pre-pandemic period (2015-2019). Exposure to high levels of PM2.5 and PM10 particles was positively correlated with COVID-19 incidence and mortality. The derived average PM2.5/PM10 ratios during the entire pandemic period are relatively low (<0.44), indicating a dominance of coarse traffic-related particles' fraction. Significant reductions of the averaged AOD levels over Bucharest were recorded during the first and third waves of COVID-19 pandemic and their associated lockdowns (~28.2% and ~16.4%, respectively) compared to pre-pandemic period (2015-2019) average AOD levels. The findings of this research are important for decision-makers implementing COVID-19 safety controls and health measures during viral infections.

Revealing Long-Term Indoor Air Quality Prediction: An Intelligent Informer-Based Approach.

Indoor air pollution is an urgent issue, posing a significant threat to the health of indoor workers and residents. Individuals engaged in indoor occupations typically spend an average of around 21 h per day in enclosed spaces, while residents spend approximately 13 h indoors on average. Accurately predicting indoor air quality is crucial for the well-being of indoor workers and frequent home dwellers. Despite the development of numerous methods for indoor air quality prediction, the task remains challenging, especially under constraints of limited air quality data collection points. To address this issue, we propose a neural network capable of capturing time dependencies and correlations among data indicators, which integrates the informer model with a data-correlation feature extractor based on MLP. In the experiments of this study, we employ the Informer model to predict indoor air quality in an industrial park in Changsha, Hunan Province, China. The model utilizes indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity, and outdoor particulate matter (PM) values to forecast future indoor particle levels. Experimental results demonstrate the superiority of the Informer model over other methods for both long-term and short-term indoor air quality predictions. The model we propose holds significant implications for safeguarding personal health and well-being, as well as advancing indoor air quality management practices.

Disease burden based on gender and age and risk factors for stroke in China, 2019.

Stroke has become the leading cause of death and disability among adults in China. This study aims to analyze the disease burden based on gender and age and the risk factors for stroke subtypes in China 2019, and to provide reference for targeted stroke prevention and control. Based on 2019 data of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), the gender and age in patients with different stroke subtypes (ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage) in China 2019 was described by using disability-adjusted life years (DALY), and attributable burden of related risk factors was analyzed. In 2019, the burden of intracranial hemorrhage was the heaviest one in China, resulting in 22.210 6 million person years of DALY, following by ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage, resulting in 21.393 9 and 2.344 7 million person years of DALY, respectively. Among them, except the 0-14 age group, the disease burden of different subtypes of stroke in men was higher than that in women. The disease burden of ischemic stroke was increased with age in both men and women, with the heaviest disease burden in ≥70 years group. The disease burden of intracranial hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage was the heaviest in males aged 50-69 years old, and in females aged ≥70 years and 50-69 years, respectively. Metabolic factors were the main risk factors in all ages of different stroke subtypes, and the most important risk factor was high systolic blood pressure. Other risk factors were different between men and women. Smoking, high body mass index, high low-density lipoprotein, and outdoor particulate matter pollution were the main risk factors for stroke in men, while high body mass index, outdoor particulate matter pollution, and high fasting blood glucose were the main risk factors of stroke in women. The main risk were different among different age groups. The burden and attributable risk factors for different stroke subtypes are discrepancy in different gender and age groups. Targeted interventions should be conducted in the future to reduce the burden of stroke.

Impact of outdoor particulate matter 2.5 pollution on natural ventilation energy saving potential in office buildings in China

Natural ventilation improves building energy performance and indoor air quality, but its potential is hindered by outdoor pollution. This paper aims to evaluate the impact of outdoor Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) pollution on natural ventilation energy saving potential in office buildings in China. Firstly, a typical office building in five representative cities across all climatic regions was designed. Secondly, related weather data were obtained and preprocessed. Thirdly, a computer model was developed under the EnergyPlus environment with smart window ventilation control, space temperature reset using adaptive thermal comfort model, and a validated pollution transportation model that calculates the indoor PM2.5 concentration. The computer model was applied to three air-conditioning systems, i.e., constant air volume (CAV), variable air volume (VAV), and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) with three evaluation indices. The results show that the natural ventilation hours rate with/without considering the outdoor PM2.5 concentration level were 15%–55% and 28%–67%, respectively. Energy savings varied across regions, with mild regions having the highest potential and cold regions having the least. CAV demonstrates the highest energy savings, followed by VAV and VRF, except in Guangzhou where VAV performs the worst. This study contributes to understanding the impact of outdoor pollution on natural ventilation potential and provides practical insights for energy-saving strategies in office buildings. Its originality lies in the evaluation methodology, comprehensive approach, sophisticated computer model, comparative analysis of air-conditioning systems, and practical implications for energy-savings. The research outcomes can guide building facility engineers in implementing ventilation control strategies while maintaining indoor thermal comfort.

Can oestrogenic activity in air contribute to the overall body burden of endocrine disruptors?

Endocrine disruptors (EDCs) are emerging contaminants that are harmful to health. Human exposure occurs mainly through ingestion or dermal contact, but inhalation could be an additional exposure route; therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the oestrogenic activity of airborne particulate matter (PM). Outdoor PM was collected for a year in five Italian sites and extracted with organic solvents (four seasonal extracts/site). The oestrogenic activity was assessed using a gene reporter assay (MELN), and the risk to human health through inhalation was quantified using the results. Moreover, extracts were analysed to assess cytotoxicity (WST-1 and LDH assays) on human bronchial cells (BEAS-2B). The extracts induced a significant cytotoxicity and oestrogenic activity. Oestrogenic activity showed a seasonal trend and was correlated with concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene and toxic equivalency factor. Although a low inhalation cancer risk was found, this study confirmed that oestrogenic activity in air could contribute to overall health risks due to EDC exposure.

Outdoor Health Risk of Atmospheric Particulate Matter at Night in Xi'an, Northwestern China.

The deterioration of air quality via anthropogenic activities during the night period has been deemed a serious concern among the scientific community. Thereby, we explored the outdoor particulate matter (PM) concentration and the contributions from various sources during the day and night in winter and spring 2021 in a megacity, northwestern China. The results revealed that the changes in chemical compositions of PM and sources (motor vehicles, industrial emissions, coal combustion) at night lead to substantial PM toxicity, oxidative potential (OP), and OP/PM per unit mass, indicating high oxidative toxicity and exposure risk at nighttime. Furthermore, higher environmentally persistent free radical (EPFR) concentration and its significant correlation with OP were observed, suggesting that EPFRs cause reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Moreover, the noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were systematically explained and spatialized to children and adults, highlighting intensified hotspots to epidemiological researchers. This better understanding of day-night-based PM formation pathways and their hazardous impact will assist to guide measures to diminish the toxicity of PM and reduce the disease led by air pollution.

Energy-focused predictive control for particulate matter concentration and thermal comfort indoors in Delhi

This paper presents a novel, model-based approach for energy-focused indoor particulate matter (PM) concentration control and indoor temperature management for a residential house. A physics-based model is developed to predict PM concentration and temperature indoors as a function of outdoor PM concentration, outdoor temperature, indoor emission, indoor heat generation, and flow rates of air handling unit (AHU), portable air filter (PAF), and air conditioning (AC) systems. The optimized settings of the ventilation systems AHU, PAF, and AC are determined employing a nonlinear model predictive control (MPC) algorithm. A case study in Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world, is conducted. Extensive simulation studies under seasonal changes in outdoor conditions and varying indoor emissions demonstrate the ability of the MPC controller to maintain PM concentration and temperature indoors within or close to the desired levels, while optimizing energy consumption.

The Representativeness of Outdoor Particulate Matter Concentrations for Estimating Personal Dose and Health Risk Assessment of School Children in Lisbon.

This study investigated the suitability of outdoor particulate matter data obtained from a fixed monitoring station in estimating the personal deposited dose. Outdoor data were retrieved from a station located within the urban area of Lisbon and simulations were performed involving school children. Two scenarios were applied: one where only outdoor data were used assuming an outdoor exposure scenario, and a second one where an actual exposure scenario was adopted using the actual microenvironment during typical school days. Personal PM10 and PM2.5 dose (actual exposure scenario) was 23.4% and 20.2% higher than the ambient (outdoor exposure scenario) PM10 and PM2.5 doses, respectively. The incorporation of the hygroscopic growth in the calculations increased the ambient dose of PM10 and PM2.5 by 8.8% and 21.7%, respectively. Regression analysis between the ambient and personal dose showed no linearity with R2 at 0.07 for PM10 and 0.22 for PM2.5. On the other hand, linear regression between the ambient and school indoor dose showed no linearity (R2 = 0.01) for PM10 but moderate (R2 = 0.48) for PM2.5. These results demonstrate that ambient data must be used with caution for the representativeness of a realistic personal dose of PM2.5 while for PM10 the ambient data cannot be used as a surrogate of a realistic personal dose of school children.

Particulate matter in school buildings: Influence of influx control of outdoor PM particles and building renovation in summer

The hazardous effects of air pollution on the human body are of grave concern, particularly the rising levels of 2.5 μm-particulate matter. Children are more susceptible to the lethal effects of particulate matter (PM) than adults. In this study, a case study of architectural renovation (ARCH-R) and facility renovation (FAC-R) was conducted in a school by focusing on the exit and entrance gates. In addition, the PM influx rate was evaluated. To evaluate the influx rate of PM, opening/closing recognition equipment and particle sensors were utilized. Following the renovation, the result was evaluated. During the daytime, the air curtain led to a reduction in the influx rate of PM of approximately 8% when the door was open. During the nighttime, it was confirmed that the fine dust influx rate was reduced through reinforcement of the door. However, regarding using these two measures in combination, it was confirmed that the concentration of PM increased in the corridor when the air curtain was operated while the door was closed. It was confirmed that both ARCH-R and FAC-R are necessary for controlling the influx of fine dust from the outdoor air. Appropriate operating guidelines should be provided for school operators.

Development of air purifier operation guidelines using grey box models for the concentrations of particulate matter in elementary school classrooms.

Considering the hazardous effects of particulate matter (PM) exposure on students and teachers and the high PM concentration issue in South Korea, air purifiers have recently been installed in most classrooms to improve air quality. However, some on-site challenges, such as operational costs and noise, have been issues with the continuous operation of air purifiers. Therefore, a guideline is needed to dynamically predict the indoor PM concentration based on the changes in outdoor PM concentration and activate the air purifiers only when necessary. This study develops a grey-box model that uses measured data and physical differential equations to perform the given objective and verifies its accuracy using ASTM D5157. Modeling and analysis results have obtained information that can form the basis for developing guidelines to address PM issues in schools: The air purifier should be operated during periods where the predicted values exceed the limit in closed windows and the air purifier is not operating. It was also confirmed that the need for the operation of the air purifier varies between schools and classrooms under the same outdoor PM concentration. Indoor PM concentration increased significantly after students' simultaneous mass movement, necessitating air purifiers' operation before and after the events. The prefilter of the heater also aided in the removal of coarse PM. Additionally, the limitations and future development directions of the model were discussed.

Outdoor particulate matter exposure affects metabolome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Preliminary study.

The metabolomic changes caused by airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether it is possible to predict PM2.5-induced acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) using metabolic markers. Thirty-eight patients with COPD diagnosed by the 2018 Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease were selected and divided into high exposure and low exposure groups. Questionnaire data, clinical data, and peripheral blood data were collected from the patients. Targeted metabolomics using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was performed on the plasma samples to investigate the metabolic differences between the two groups and its correlation with the risk of acute exacerbation. Metabolomic analysis identified 311 metabolites in the plasma of patients with COPD, among which 21 metabolites showed significant changes between the two groups, involving seven pathways, including glycerophospholipid, alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. Among the 21 metabolites, arginine and glycochenodeoxycholic acid were positively associated with AECOPD during the three months of follow-up, with an area under the curve of 72.50% and 67.14%, respectively. PM2.5 exposure can lead to changes in multiple metabolic pathways that contribute to the development of AECOPD, and arginine is a bridge between PM2.5 exposure and AECOPD.

Towards control strategies of particulate matter concentration in subway platforms: A case study in Beijing

The particulate matter (PM) concentration in subway platforms greatly affects people’s health. Previous control strategies fail to consider comprehensive factors, or exhibit deficient in quantitative suggestions. In this paper, we propose a comprehensive framework for exploring control strategies of the PM concentration in subway platforms using the field observation data of 12 subway stations of Beijing. The framework consists of factor analysis stage, simulation stage, and prediction stage. The first stage extracts five important factors (concentration of outdoor PM, passenger flow, train departure frequency, operation years and platform type) related to the PM concentration in platforms, and ranks the importance of those factors. The second stage reveals two vertical distribution laws and a horizontal distribution law of the PM concentration in platforms. The third stage predicts the PM2.5 concentration in platforms based on the mass balance model. Finally, we suggest seven pieces of control strategies including regularly clean tunnels, platforms and ventilation systems; release negative ionic air; and add air cleaners in specific locations. In particular, we suggest a quantitative strategy on the wind speed of air supply outlet which can reduce the PM2.5 concentration in platforms 15.4%–62.3% under different air quality. The results of our study can provide a scientific basis for control of the particulate pollution in platforms, and effectively improve the subway environment.

Estimating the mortality attributable to indoor exposure to particulate matter of outdoor origin in mainland China

Previous estimations on the premature deaths attributable to indoor ambient particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) of outdoor origin only considered the indoor PM2.5 concentration, which always neglected the impact from the distribution of particle size and the PM deposition in human airways. To tackle this issue, we first calculated the premature deaths due to PM2.5 was approximately 1,163,864 persons in mainland China in 2018 by using the global disease burden approach. Then, we specified the infiltration factor of PM with aerodynamic diameter < 1 μm (PM1) and PM2.5 to estimate the indoor PM pollution. Results showed that average concentrations of indoor PM1 and PM2.5 of outdoor origin were 14.1 ± 3.9 μg/m3 and 17.4 ± 5.4 μg/m3, respectively. The indoor PM1/PM2.5 ratio of outdoor origin was estimated to be 0.83 ± 0.18, which was 36 % higher than the ambient PM1/PM2.5 ratio (0.61 ± 0.13). Furthermore, we calculated the premature deaths from the indoor exposure of outdoor origin was approximately 734,696, accounting for approximately 63.1 % of total deaths. Our results are 12 % higher than previous estimations neglecting the impact from the distribution disparities of PM between indoor and outdoor. Regarding the cause-specific diseases, indoor PM2.5 exposure of outdoor origin accounted for 293,379 deaths to ischemic heart disease, followed by 158,238 deaths to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 134,390 deaths to stroke, 84,346 cases to lung cancer, 52,628 deaths to lower respiratory tract infection, and 11,715 deaths to type 2 diabetes. In addition, we for the first time estimated the indoor PM1 of outdoor origin has led to approximately 537,717 premature deaths in mainland China. Our results have well demonstrated the health impact may be approximately 10 % higher when considering the effects from infiltration and respiratory tract uptake and physical activity levels, comparing to the treatment that only used outdoor PM concentration.

Impact on mortality of pathways to net zero greenhouse gas emissions in England and Wales: a multisectoral modelling study

The UK is legally committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. We aimed to understand the potential impact on population health of two pathways for achieving this target through the integrated effects of six actions in four sectors. In this multisectoral modelling study we assessed the impact on population health in England and Wales of six policy actions relating to electricity generation, transport, home energy, active travel, and diets relative to a baseline scenario in which climate actions, exposures, and behaviours were held constant at 2020 levels under two scenarios: the UK Climate Change Committee's Balanced Pathway of technological and behavioural measures; and its Widespread Engagement Pathway, which assumes more substantial changes to consumer behaviours. We quantified the impacts of each policy action on mortality using a life table comprising all exposures, behaviours, and health outcomes in a single model. Both scenarios are predicted to result in substantial reductions in mortality by 2050. The Widespread Engagement Pathway achieves a slightly greater reduction in outdoor fine particulate matter air pollution of 3·2 μg/m3 (33%) and, under assumptions of appropriate ventilation, a greater improvement in indoor air pollution (a decrease in indoor-generated fine particulate matter from 9·4 μg/m3 to 4·6 μg/m3) and winter temperatures (increasing from 17·8°C to 18·1°C), as well as appreciably greater changes in levels of active travel (27% increase in metabolic equivalent hours per week of walking and cycling) by 2050. Additionally, the greater reduction in red meat consumption (50% compared with 35% under the Balanced Pathway) by 2050 results in greater consumption of fruits (17-18 g/day), vegetables (22-23 g/day), and legumes (5-7 g/day). Combined actions under the Balanced Pathway result in more than 2 million cumulative life-years gained over 2021-50; the estimated gain under the Widespread Engagement Pathway is greater, corresponding to nearly 2·5 million life-years gained by 2050 and 13·7 million life-years gained by 2100. Reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions is likely to lead to substantial benefits for public health in England and Wales, with the cumulative net benefits being correspondingly greater with a pathway that entails faster and more ambitious changes, especially in physical activity and diets. National Institute for Health Research and the Wellcome Trust.

Impacts of PM on Indoor Air Quality of Airport Terminal Buildings in a Core City of North China Plain

With the economic growth and globalization, a great deal of airports are being or planned to be constructed or retrofitted in China. The air quality in airport terminal buildings has not been studied as in-depth as airport ambient air quality. Due to its unique architectural and operational characteristics, the airport terminal buildings have individual performance of indoor air quality. The contribution of outdoor particulate matter (PM) to indoor environment and passengers’ exposure to indoor PM is not well understood. The indoor (i.e., terminal buildings) and outdoor PM concentrations with particle sizes from 0.25 to 32 μm of Tianjin Binhai International Airport (IATA: TSN) were monitored continuously during two cases in winter and summer 2020. Higher indoor PM concentrations occurred in winter as well as in the arrival halls of TSN. During winter case, the indoor sources contributed more to the indoor environment than the outdoor sources, whereas the opposite was found during summer case. Sharp variation of indoor PM number concentrations existed in particles within the range of 0.25–0.40 μm in size, with a peak number concentration at particle size of about 0.30 μm. PM with smaller particle sizes were more likely to enter the indoor environment from outdoor. The comprehensive exposure in the TSN terminal buildings was higher than those in the transportation microenvironments, residences and other buildings. Significant diurnal variations of Respiratory deposition dose (RDD) were observed under various exposure durations. Our results highlight the need for further monitoring and improving the air quality in the terminal buildings.