Exposure to long-range transported particulate matter and modeling age-related particle deposition

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is known to cause cardiovascular disease and increase mortality and morbidity. Asian dust (AD) is a meteorological phenomenon which affects much of East Asia year-round but especially during the spring months. Here, we have characterized concentrations of PM10 and classified synoptic air flow trajectories using HYSPLIT model for Asian dust events (from March to April) in Jeju island, Korea. The ADE is a phenomenon in which sand and dust in the deserts of China or Mongolia rise mainly in spring and are blown away by western winds and gradually subside. The calculated inhaled PM10 doses from specific microenvironments (home, work or school, and transportation) were from 5.28 to 101.48 mu g depending on age group and different microenvironments while the calculated PM10 inhaled doses for ADE ranged within 67.92 -769.27 mu g. Also, we have evaluated the contribution of specific microenvironments to the exposure for different age groups using time-activity patterns and calculated inhaled PM10 doses and deposited mass/mass flux so as to estimate exposure using multiple-path particle dosimetry (MPPD) model. The monthly average outdoor PM10 concentration range was 29.3-65.4 mu g/m(3), whereas the monthly PM10 concentration for ADE was 127.0-342.0 mu g/m(3). Air masses from clusters 1 and 2 were 24% and 29% (in 2017), clusters 2 and 3 were 24% and 32% (in 2018), and clusters 1 and 3 were 28% and 26% (in 2019) for ADE. In the aerosol deposition based on MPPD model, the corresponding values for daily particle deposited mass for two age groups ranged from 8.64 x10(-5) mu g (age 8) to 8.64 x10(-4) mu g (age 21). We assessed the PM2.5 exposure considering time-activity patterns, age groups, and ADE exposure evaluation caused by long-range transport airflow; this could be helpful for assessing PM10 exposure-related health evaluation.

Automated summary

Exposure to particulate matter, especially during Asian dust events, has been linked to cardiovascular disease. This study in Jeju island, Korea, analyzed PM10 concentrations and air flow trajectories during Asian dust events, highlighting the different contributions of various microenvironments to exposure and evaluating exposure in different age groups.