Assessing personal PM_2.5 exposure from various microenvironments among schoolchildren in Vietnam

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Air Quality Science

Background:

• Air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), poses a significant threat to public health globally.
• Children are a vulnerable population susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution exposure.
• Understanding microenvironment-specific PM2.5 concentrations is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess PM2.5 concentrations in various microenvironments experienced by schoolchildren in Vietnam.
• To identify the primary sources and activities contributing to personal PM2.5 exposure among children.
• To investigate the influence of different microenvironments on children's daily PM2.5 intake.

Main Methods:

• Personal PM2.5 exposure was measured using portable AirBeam3 monitors in 64 schoolchildren (aged 11-12) in Ho Chi Minh City.
• Children's daily activities and microenvironment exposures were recorded using diaries.
• Linear mixed-effects models were employed to analyze the impact of microenvironments on PM2.5 exposure.

Main Results:

• The median PM2.5 concentration was 25 μg/m³; peak levels occurred during heavy traffic hours (06:00-07:00 and 18:00-20:30).
• Children spent 88.4% of their time indoors.
• Key contributors to high PM2.5 exposure included home incense burning (28.9% increase), eating street food (21.2%), and motorbike commuting (21.1%). Motorbike commuting yielded higher exposure than walking or cycling.

Conclusions:

• Indoor air quality, particularly from incense burning, significantly impacts children's PM2.5 exposure.
• Reducing incense burning, promoting cleaner transportation, and enhancing urban infrastructure are vital for mitigating children's exposure.
• Targeted interventions focusing on high-exposure microenvironments are necessary to protect schoolchildren's respiratory health.