Seasonal Variations of Human Exposure to Residential FineParticles (PM2.5) and Particle-Associated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Chuncheon

, Hekap Kim; , Kyung-Mi Jung

Published online January 1, 1986

Journal of Environmental Toxicology 2006;21(1):57-69.

춘천의 가정에서 미세분진 (PM2.5)과 입자상 다환방향족탄화수소에 대한 계절적 노출 변동

김희갑, 정경미

Seasonal Variations of Human Exposure to Residential FineParticles (PM2.5) and Particle-Associated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Chuncheon

Hekap Kim , Kyung-Mi Jung

ABSTRACT

Lately human exposure to fine particles smaller 2.5 ㎛ in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) has become a great concern in Korea due to their possible cause of elevated mortality, lung function decrements, and more frequent hospital admissions for asthma. This study was conducted to investigate seasonal variations of human exposure to residential PM2.5 and particle-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Ten homes in Chuncheon, Korea were visited for continuous 72 hour sampling of PM2.5 in the living rooms using a MiniVol Portable Sampler from December 22, 2002 to November 3, 2003. During the same period, outdoor PM2.5 samples were collected on the top of the Natural Sciences Building of Kangwon National University which is located in the middle of the ten households. Samples were analyzed for PM2.5 mass concentrations and six selected PAHs. In two smoking homes, the highest PM2.5 concentrations were measured ranging from 51.1 to 69.7 ?g/㎥ on average in all seasons, indicating smoking is a very important contributor to the elevation of indoor particle concentrations. Seasonal comparison showed that indoor particle concentrations were higher than outdoor ones except winter. Total PAH concentrations in smoking homes were highest in winter among the seasons primarily due to low ventilation rate, followed by the outdoor site and nonsmoking homes. BaP toxic equivalents (TEQs) were calculated for five PAHs. The TEQ for smoking homes in winter was highest followed by the outdoor site in winter. It is concluded that smoking and ventilation rate are two important contributors to the elevation of indoor PM2.5 and PAH concentrations.

Keywords: fine particle; indoor; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; PM<; SUB>; 2.5<; /SUB>