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Self-reported exertion levels on time/activity diaries: application to exposure assessment
M Schwab1, A P Terblanche, J D Spengler
1Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, MA 02115.
Summary
This study links personal air pollution exposure to dose by analyzing children's self-reported activity and exertion levels. Findings reveal seasonal and age-related differences in children's physical exertion, crucial for accurate exposure assessment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Occupational Health
- Human Exposure Science
Background:
- Personal monitoring advances air pollution analysis in human-frequented locations.
- Dose assessment is the next frontier in understanding human exposure to contaminants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To link air pollution exposure data with dose assessment.
- To collect data on exertion levels associated with daily activities for dose assessment.
Main Methods:
- Utilized time/activity diaries for 91 children (9-11 years) over two periods (summer and school-time).
- Administered diaries to 42 teenagers (15-17 years) for two days.
- Collected self-reported exertion levels alongside activity data.
Main Results:
- Presented the distribution of exertion levels across children's activities.
- Highlighted significant seasonal, day-of-week, and age-group differences in exertion.
- Discussed challenges in interpreting self-reported exertion data.
Conclusions:
- Self-reported exertion data provides valuable insights for dose assessment in personal air pollution studies.
- Understanding activity-specific exertion is key to refining exposure-dose relationships.
- Acknowledged participant-researcher perception disparities in exertion coding.