Personal exposure and indoor PM2.5 concentrations in an urban population

Personal exposures and micro-environmental concentrations of PM2.5 were measured in a non-smoking adult population of 40 workers for 48h each over a period of 1 year. Geometric mean daytime and non-work personal exposures to PM2.5 were slightly higher than mean indoor office and home concentrations respectively. Personal exposures to PM2.5 were also higher than fixed site PM10 concentrations. Individual personal exposures and micro-environmental concentrations varied by about 1 order of magnitude. According to a stepwise regression model for all participants, indoor office concentration was the best predictor for daytime personal exposure, and residential indoor concentration and time spent in public houses were the best predictors for non-work personal exposure.