Pilot Investigation of Indoor-Outdoor and Personal PM10 (Thoracic) and Associated Ionic Compounds and Mutagenic Activity

摘要

A major objective of the pilot study was to evaluate methods of measuring indoor and personal exposures to PM10. Other objectives were to examine the feasibility of measuring particle characteristics (other than mass) that may be useful in relating exposures to PM10 to health effects. The investigators tested several types of particle sampling devices in the homes of eight asthmatic subjects who resided in Orange County. The investigators measured particle mass for levels of sulfate nitrate ions and the mutagenicity of particle extracts. The pilot study demonstrated successfully the use of certain portable sampling devices to measure PM10 exposure and showed that it is feasible to measure levels of ionic species and mutagenic activity in particle samples obtained with these devices. The results of the study can be applied in the design of larger studies of similar nature.