Exposures to nitrogen dioxide in EXPOLIS-Helsinki: microenvironment, behavioral and sociodemographic factors
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 5, 2026

Real-World M3-BREATHE: Toward Multimodal Mobile Monitoring of Behaviour, Respiration, and Exposures for Treatment and Health Evaluation
Published on: June 5, 2026
1Department of Environmental Health, KTL-National Public Health Institute, P.O. Box 95, Kuopio FIN-70701, Finland. tuulia.rotko@helsinki.fi
Abstract:
Personal exposures to nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) were monitored for 176 randomly selected inhabitants (25-55 years old) of Helsinki Metropolitan area as a part of the EXPOLIS (Air Pollution Exposure Distributions Within Adult Urban Populations in Europe) study between October 1996 and December 1997. NO(2) measurements were 48-h averages collected by Palmes passive sampler tubes. Differences in personal exposures to NO(2) were analyzed between sub-populations stratified by microenvironment, behavioral, socioeconomic and demographic factors. Factors significantly associated with differences in exposures to NO(2) were home and work location, housing characteristics, traffic volume near home, season and keeping windows open at home. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and use of gas stove were also associated with increased personal exposures, although only few participants had a gas stove in Helsinki, and other gas appliances are non-existent. Single adults had higher average exposures to NO(2) than married or cohabiting participants, suggesting differences in living conditions between these two groups. Increased education was associated with decreased exposures to NO(2) and employed men were more exposed than unemployed men. Increased exposures to NO(2) were not associated with age or occupational status in Helsinki. Thus, behavioral and sociodemographic factors may have significant impact on personal exposures to NO(2) and should be considered in addition to environmental determinants in any monitoring program.
More Related Videos
09:33Visualizing Field Data Collection Procedures of Exposure and Biomarker Assessments for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network Trial in India
Published on: December 23, 2022
07:12Façade-Level Monitoring of CO2 Variability under Urban Heat Island Conditions using Low-Cost Sensor Data Loggers
Published on: December 12, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Microenvironments
Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences
Other Factors Affecting Respiration Centers
However, the ability to hold one's breath voluntarily is not limitless. When the CO2 concentration in the blood reaches a critical level,...
Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
Factors Affecting Respiration