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Daily inhalation rate and time-activity/location pattern in Japanese preschool children
Junko Kawahara1, Shigeho Tanaka, Chiaki Tanaka
1Research Center for Environmental Risks, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan. jkawa@nies.go.jp
Insights
This study measured daily inhalation rates and physical activity in Japanese preschoolers. The findings validate current health risk assessment values but recommend a higher upper bound for air pollutant exposure protection.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Health
- Occupational Exposure Science
Background:
- Accurate daily inhalation rates and physical activity data for children are crucial for health risk assessments of air pollutants.
- Existing data gaps hinder precise exposure evaluation in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the daily inhalation rate and physical activity patterns in Japanese preschool children.
- To assess the validity of current inhalation rate values used in Japanese health risk assessments.
- To inform refined exposure estimations for air pollutant health risks.
Main Methods:
- Employed tri-axial accelerometers for continuous physical activity monitoring over three days.
- Utilized parent-completed time/location diaries to capture daily life activities.
- Included 138 Japanese preschool children aged four to six years in suburban Tokyo.
Main Results:
- The estimated mean daily inhalation rate was 9.9 ± 1.6 m³/day (0.52 ± 0.09 m³/kg/day).
- Current health risk assessment inhalation rate (0.580 m³/kg/day) is valid for central estimates in 5-6 year olds.
- A 95th percentile rate of 0.83 m³/kg/day is recommended for upper-bound exposure estimates.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms the adequacy of existing inhalation rate values for central exposure calculations in children.
- Recommends a higher percentile inhalation rate for robust protection against air pollutant health risks.
- Highlights the importance of environmental context in physical activity and respiratory ventilation for accurate risk assessment.
Abstract:
Lack of data on daily inhalation rate and activity of children has been an issue in health risk assessment of air pollutants. This study aimed to obtain the daily inhalation rate and intensity and frequency of physical activity in relation to the environment in Japanese preschool children. Children aged four-six years (n= 138) in the suburbs of Tokyo participated in this study, which involved three days' continuous monitoring of physical activity using a tri-axial accelerometer and parent's completion of a time/location diary during daily life. The estimated three-day mean daily inhalation rate (body temperature, pressure, saturated with water vapor) was 9.9 ± 1.6 m(3) /day (0.52 ± 0.09 m(3) /kg/day). The current daily inhalation rate value of 0.580 m(3) /kg/day proposed for use in health risk assessment in Japan is confirmed to be valid to calculate central value of inhaled dose of air pollutants in five- to six-year-old children. However, the 95th percentile daily inhalation rate of 0.83 m(3) /kg/day based on measurement for five-year-old children is recommended to be used to provide an upper bound estimate of exposure that ensure the protection of all five- to six-year-old children from the health risk of air pollutants. Children spent the majority of their time in sedentary and light level of physical activity (LPA) when indoors, while 85% of their time when outdoors was spent in LPA and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The results suggest the need to consider variability of minute respiratory ventilation rate according to the environment for more refined short-term health risk assessment.
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