PALM: A Personal Activity Location Model of Exposure to Air Pollution - PILLA, FRANCESCO (Irish Epa, 2015)
PUBLISHED
The adverse health effects of air pollution are well established, but previous studies on this topic have generally considered the average pollution concentration in an area rather than the specific concentration experienced by an individual. Variations in the locations (both indoors and outdoors) occupied by individuals and the activities in which they participate lead to variations in their exposure to pollution, in the uptake of air pollutants in their lungs, and in consequent health effects. The development of a methodology for modelling this variation in personal exposure offers a valuable alternative to expensive personal monitoring. The project has identified the significance of indoor air quality on the overall impact of air pollution on the health of a typical office worker. Exposure and uptake during indoor activities, such as working and cooking, significantly outweighed those identified during outdoor activities, such as commuting. Exposure to and uptake of pollutants must both be considered when comparing health impacts across different activities; the use of concentration exposure alone can result in significant misinterpretation of relative health impacts. Differences between mean personal exposure measurements and background air quality data identified in previous air pollution exposure assessments were confirmed in this study, which has implications for current policy on air quality management and for epidemiological modelling investigations.
Irish Environmental Protection Agency