Exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been associated with adverse health outcomes, particularly in susceptible population groups such as children. This study aims to characterise children's ...exposure to PM and its chemical constituents. Size-segregated aerosol samples (PM0.25, PM0.25–0.5, PM0.5–1.0, PM1.0–2.5 and PM2.5–10) were collected in the indoor and outdoor of homes and schools located in Lisbon (Portugal). Organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) were determined by a thermo-optical method, whereas major and trace elements were analysed by X-Ray Fluorescence. In school, the children were exposed to higher PM concentrations than in home, which might be associated not only to the elevated human occupancy but also to outdoor infiltration. The pattern of PM mass size distribution was dependent on the location (home vs. school and indoor vs. outdoor). The presence of EC in PM0.25 and OC in PM0.25–0.5 was linked to traffic exhaust emissions. OC and EC in PM2.5–10 may be explained by their adhesion to the surface of coarser particles. Generally, the concentrations of mineral and marine elements increased with increasing PM size, while for anthropogenic elements happened the opposite. In schools, the concentrations of mineral matter, anthropogenic elements and marine aerosol were higher than in homes. High mineral matter concentrations found in schools were related to the close proximity to busy roads and elevated human occupancy. Overall, the results suggest that exposure to PM is relevant and highlights the need for strategies that provide healthier indoor environments, principally in schools.
•Assessment of concentrations and chemical composition of PM in homes and schools.•In school the children were exposed to much higher PM concentrations than in home.•PM concentrations were frequently higher indoors than outdoors.•PM mass size distribution depended on the location (home vs. school; indoor vs. outdoor).•Contributions from chemical constituents varied by PM size.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Poor hospital indoor air quality (IAQ) may lead to hospital-acquired infections, sick hospital syndrome and various occupational hazards. Air-control measures are crucial for reducing dissemination ...of airborne biological particles in hospitals.
The objective of this study was to perform a survey of bioaerosol quality in different sites in a Portuguese Hospital, namely the operating theater (OT), the emergency service (ES) and the surgical ward (SW). Aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts (BCs) and fungal load (FL) were assessed by impaction directly onto tryptic soy agar and malt extract agar supplemented with antibiotic chloramphenicol (0.05%) plates, respectively using a MAS-100 air sampler.
The ES revealed the highest airborne microbial concentrations (BC range 240–736 CFU/m3 CFU/m3; FL range 27–933 CFU/m3), exceeding, at several sampling sites, conformity criteria defined in national legislation 6. Bacterial concentrations in the SW (BC range 99–495 CFU/m3) and the OT (BC range 12–170 CFU/m3) were under recommended criteria. While fungal levels were below 1 CFU/m3 in the OT, in the SW (range 1–32 CFU/m3), there existed a site with fungal indoor concentrations higher than those detected outdoors. Airborne Gram-positive cocci were the most frequent phenotype (88%) detected from the measured bacterial population in all indoor environments. Staphylococcus (51%) and Micrococcus (37%) were dominant among the bacterial genera identified in the present study. Concerning indoor fungal characterization, the prevalent genera were Penicillium (41%) and Aspergillus (24%).
Regular monitoring is essential for assessing air control efficiency and for detecting irregular introduction of airborne particles via clothing of visitors and medical staff or carriage by personal and medical materials. Furthermore, microbiological survey data should be used to clearly define specific air quality guidelines for controlled environments in hospital settings.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Introdução: O presente trabalho estima o risco de infeção por SARS-CoV-2 em ambientes interiores onde a elevada densidade de ocupação resulta numa probabilidade acrescida de contágio, como escolas, ...escritórios, supermercados, restaurantes e ginásios.Material e Métodos: Foram testadas várias condições nos espaços interiores, tais como a utilização e eficácia de máscaras, a ventilação, a utilização de equipamentos que permitem uma assepsia do ar recorrendo a filtros HEPA, a densidade de ocupação e o tempo de permanência nos espaços, tendo sido utilizado um modelo baseado na dispersão de partículas de aerossóis em espaços fechados e na acumulação e inalação destas partículas ao longo do tempo.Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que a substituição de máscaras sociais por máscaras com classificação FFP2 diminuiu o risco de infeção em 90% nas escolas. Em escolas com ventilação natural, a abertura das janelas na sua totalidade reduziu o risco de infeção em 64% comparativamente com o cenário de janelas fechadas. Nos espaços onde a ventilação mecânica é normalmente utilizada, a probabilidade de infeção reduziu significativamente quando os caudais de ar novo regulamentares foram duplicados (redução de 32% nos escritórios, 42% nos restaurantes, 24% nos supermercados e 46% nos ginásios). A filtragem de ar com filtros HEPA permitiu a redução da probabilidade de infeção em 72% nas escolas, escritórios e restaurantes e 61% nos ginásios. O tempo de permanência nos espaços foi também um fator relevante na variação da probabilidade de infeção, principalmente nas escolas onde se verificou que aulas mais curtas e com um maior número de intervalos reduzem o risco de infeção.Discussão: Os resultados evidenciam a importância de uma adequada ventilação em ambientes fechados, principalmente em locais onde a densidade de ocupação e os tempos de permanência são mais longos, sendo essencial a introdução de ar exterior no interior dos espaços, seja através de meios naturais ou mecânicos. É expectável que os valores de risco de infeção apresentados ao longo do trabalho estejam subvalorizados pelo facto do modelo utilizado apenas considerar a transmissão por partículas inferiores a 10 μm e por, ao assumir o distanciamento social, não incluir a transmissão de curto alcance. A vacinação não foi considerada no modelo pelo facto de ainda não estar disponível quando o trabalho foi realizado.Conclusão: Este estudo vem contribuir para a identificação de medidas que permitem um menor risco de transmissão viral, e consequentemente, uma maior segurança no interior dos espaços fechados.
Urban vegetable gardens are very often a feature of cities that want to offer their citizens a more sustainable lifestyle by producing their own food products. However, cities can have significant ...pollution levels (or pollution hotspots) due to specific sources of pollution, such as traffic. Among the various pollutants, microplastics (MPs) are emerging as a consensual concern due to the awareness of the environmental contamination, their bioaccumulation potential and human intake, and, consequently unknown human health impacts. The present study compared the content of MPs in lettuce plants cultivated in Lisbon urban gardens with those cultivated in a rural area, as well as samples bought in supermarkets. Microplastics were detected in all washed leaves, with mean levels ranging from 6.3 ± 6.2 to 29.4 ± 18.2 MPs/g. Lettuce grown in urban gardens from areas with high traffic density showed higher MPs levels. Weak positive Spearman's rank correlations were found between MPs content and concentrations of Cu and S (determined by Particle Induced X-Ray Emission, PIXE), suggesting a possible role of traffic contribution to MPs levels, as both elements are considered traffic-source tracers. These results contribute to shed light on the MP contamination of vegetables grown in such urban environments, that may represent a potential MP exposure route through the dietary intake, corresponding to a 70% increase in annual MP intake compared to lettuces bought in supermarkets.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
A study concerning the chemical characterization of PM2.5 sampled indoors of a primary school, which burns wood for classrooms’ heating, was conducted in a rural area of Portugal. A Partisol ...sequential sampler was placed inside of a classroom, to collect PM2.5 during the day, which corresponds to the occupied period, and during the night. The collected PM2.5 was characterized by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis to determine the concentration of chemical elements and by Ion Chromatography to measure Water Soluble Ions. High PM2.5 concentrations were found principally during the occupied periods (100 ± 71 μg m−3). A source apportionment study was performed by means of Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis. Results showed that four factors contributed for PM2.5 concentration whereas one factor was associated exclusively with a mixture of indoor sources: wood burning, re-suspension of soil and chalk. During classes, this indoor factor contributed for 60% of the total PM2.5 concentration. This study showed that children are exposed to high levels of PM2.5 and indicated the existence of an indoor air quality problem associated with specific indoor sources and poor ventilation.
•Characterization of PM2.5 in a classroom where wood-burning is used for heating.•High levels of PM2.5 concentrations were found.•The use of source apportionment tools applied indoors to identify emission sources.•An indoor and complex source of PM2.5 was identified.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The exposure to particles and bioaerosols has been associated with the increase in health effects in children. The objective of this study was to assess the indoor exposure to bioburden in the indoor ...microenvironments more frequented by children. Air particulate matter (PM) and settled dust were sampled in 33 dwellings and four schools with a medium volume sampler and with a passive method using electrostatic dust collectors (EDC), respectively. Settled dust collected by EDC was analyzed by culture-based methods (including azole resistance profile) and using qPCR. Results showed that the PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in classrooms (31.15 μg/m3 and 57.83 μg/m3, respectively) were higher than in homes (15.26 μg/m3 and 18.95 μg/m3, respectively) and highly exceeded the limit values established by the Portuguese legislation for indoor air quality. The fungal species most commonly found in bedrooms was Penicillium sp. (91.79%), whereas, in living rooms, it was Rhizopus sp. (37.95%). Aspergillus sections with toxigenic potential were found in bedrooms and living rooms and were able to grow on VOR. Although not correlated with PM, EDC provided information regarding the bioburden. Future studies, applying EDC coupled with PM assessment, should be implemented to allow for a long-term integrated sample of organic dust.
The objective of the current study was to estimate health risk indexes caused by the inhalation of particulate matter (PM) by adult males and children using data sampled in three European cities ...(Athens, Kuopio, Lisbon). Accordingly, the cancer risk (CR) and the hazard quotient (HQ) were estimated from particle-bound metal concentrations whilst the epidemiology-based excess risk (ER), the attributable fraction (AF), and the mortality cases were obtained due to exposure to PM10 and PM2.5. CR and HQ were estimated using two methodologies: the first methodology incorporated the particle-bound metal concentrations (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb) whereas the second methodology used the deposited dose rate of particle-bound metals in the respiratory tract. The indoor concentration accounts for 70% infiltration from outdoor air for the time activity periods allocated to indoor environments. HQ was lower than 1 and the cumulative CR was lower than the acceptable level (10−4), although individual CR for some metals exceeded the acceptable limit (10−6). In a lifetime the estimated number of attributable cancer cases was 74, 0.107, and 217 in Athens, Kuopio, and Lisbon, respectively. Excess risk-based mortality estimates (due to outdoor pollution) for fine particles were 3930, 44.1, and 2820 attributable deaths in Athens, Kuopio, and Lisbon, respectively.
This study evaluated the temporal variability of the concentrations of pollutants (namely, NO2, O3, PM2.5, PM10 and SO2) in an urban-industrial area of mainland Portugal during two decades (from 2001 ...to 2020), to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the levels of these atmospheric pollutants. Mean levels of pollutants in 2020 were compared with those measured in the six previous years (2014–2019). A significant improvement in air quality, namely regarding PM10 and NO2, was found and it can be attributable to the restrictions of anthropogenic activities (such as traffic) promoted during the March–May 2020 national lockdown that occurred due to the pandemic. Significant and expressive reductions of 44.0% and 40.3% were found in April 2020 for NO2 and PM10, respectively, showing the impact of local traffic in the study area. A similar trend of reduction for these pollutants was also found in the following months. However, ozone levels did not show the same trend, with significant increases in several months after the lockdown period, highlighting other contributions to this pollutant. This unique period can be considered as a living lab, where the implementation of strict measures due to COVID-19 confinement promoted the reduction of anthropogenic activities and allowed us to understand more comprehensively their impact on local air quality.
This paper complements the information previously published (Atmospheric Environment 45, 641–649) on gaseous and particulate emissions from wildfires in Portugal for summer 2009, in an attempt at ...obtaining more extensive, complete and representative databases on emission factors and detailed chemical characterisation of smoke particles. Here, emission factors for carbon oxides (CO2 and CO), total hydrocarbons (THC), fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM2.5–10) particles obtained for fires occurring in Portugal in summer 2010 are presented. The carbonaceous content (OC and EC), water-soluble ions, elements and organic composition of smoke particles were, respectively, analysed by a thermal-optical transmission technique, ion chromatography, instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The particle mass concentrations were in the ranges 0.69–25 mg m−3 for PM2.5 and 0.048–3.1 mg m−3 for PM2.5–10. PM2.5 particles represented 91 ± 5.7% of the PM10 mass. The OC/EC ratios in fine and coarse particles ranged from 2.5 to 205 and from 1.7 to 328, respectively. The water-soluble ions represented, on average, 3.9% and 2.8% of PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 mass, respectively. In general, the dominant ions in the water extracts were Na+, NH4+, Cl− and NO3− for the PM2.5 fraction, and K+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and SO42− for the PM2.5–10 fraction. The K+/EC and K+/OC ratios obtained in this study were, on average, 0.22 ± 0.23 and 0.011 ± 0.014 for PM2.5 and 0.83 ± 1.0 and 0.024 ± 0.023 for PM2.5–10 particles, respectively. The K+/levoglucosan ratio was, on average, 2.0 for PM2.5 and 3.1 for PM2.5−10 particles. Levoglucosan was detected at mass fractions of 1.6–8.7 mg g−1 OC in PM2.5 and 2.7–56 mg g−1 OC in PM2.5–10. The dominant elements detected in the smoke samples were Na, Br, Cr, Fe, K, Rb and Zn. The most representative organic constituents in the smoke samples were acids, alcohols, terpenoid-type compounds, sugars and phenols, in both size fractions.
► Inorganic and organic speciation of smoke samples from wildfires is provided. ► Fine particles (PM2.5) represented about 90% of the PM10 mass. ► The water-soluble inorganic ions represented 3.9% of PM2.5 and 2.8% of PM2.5–10. ► On average, 89% of total potassium (PM2.5 + PM2.5–10) was present in PM2.5 particles. ► Major organic compounds in smoke samples were acids, anhydrosugars and phenol.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Several studies have evaluated PM concentrations in single specific microenvironments as a measure of exposure in the entire house. In this study, PM10 was monitored at the same time in three ...microenvironments (bedroom, living room, and kitchen) from three dwellings located in a small inland town of the Iberian Peninsula to assess whether exposure varies significantly between them. Real-time optical instruments and low-volume gravimetric samplers were employed. A multi-wavelength absorption instrument was used to determine black carbon (BC) concentrations on the filters. The Multiple-Path Particle Dosimetry Model (MPPD) was applied to evaluate the deposition of PM10 and BC in the airways of adults. For all dwellings, the highest PM10 concentrations were recorded in bedrooms (B1 = 22.7 µg m−3; B2 = 19.5 µg m−3; and B3 = 68.1 µg m−3). Houses 1 and 3 did not show significant differences between microenvironments. This did not happen in house 2, suggesting that ventilation is a determining factor for concentrations. BC originated mainly from fossil fuel emissions (90%), while biomass burning represented a minor contribution (10%). MPPD showed that PM10 is predominantly deposited in the head region (≥85% of the total dose), while BC is mainly deposited in the pulmonary region (14%). Higher doses were estimated for males than for females.
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