TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of floor level and building type on residential levels of outdoor and indoor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, black carbon, and particulate matter in New York City
AU - Jung, Kyung Hwa
AU - Bernabé, Kerlly
AU - Moors, Kathleen
AU - Yan, Beizhan
AU - Chillrud, Steven N.
AU - Whyatt, Robin
AU - Camann, David
AU - Kinney, Patrick L.
AU - Perera, Frederica P.
AU - Miller, Rachel L.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Consideration of the relationship between residential floor level and concentration of traffic-related airborne pollutants may predict individual residential exposure among inner city dwellers more accurately. Our objective was to characterize the vertical gradient of residential levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH; dichotomized into ∑8PAHsemivolatile (MW 178-206), and ∑8PAHnonvolatile (MW 228-278), black carbon (BC), PM2.5 (particulate matter) by floor level (FL), season and building type. We hypothesize that PAH, BC and PM2.5 concentrations may decrease with higher FL and the vertical gradients of these compounds would be affected by heating season and building type. PAH, BC and PM2.5 were measured over a two-week period outdoor and indoor of the residences of a cohort of 5-6 year old children (n = 339) living in New York City's Northern Manhattan and the Bronx. Airborne-pollutant levels were analyzed by three categorized FL groups (0-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-32nd FL) and two building types (low-rise versus high-rise apartment building). Indoor ∑8PAHnonvolatile and BC levels declined with increasing FL. During the nonheating season, the median outdoor ∑8PAHnonvolatile, but not ∑8PAHsemivolatile, level at 6th-2nd FL was 1.5-2 times lower than levels measured at lower FL. Similarly, outdoor and indoor BC concentrations at 6th-32nd FL were significantly lower than those at lower FL only during the nonheating season (p < 0.05). In addition, living in a low-rise building was associated significantly with higher levels of ∑8PAHnonvolatile and BC. These results suggest that young inner city children may be exposed to varying levels of air pollutants depending on their FL, season, and building type.
AB - Consideration of the relationship between residential floor level and concentration of traffic-related airborne pollutants may predict individual residential exposure among inner city dwellers more accurately. Our objective was to characterize the vertical gradient of residential levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH; dichotomized into ∑8PAHsemivolatile (MW 178-206), and ∑8PAHnonvolatile (MW 228-278), black carbon (BC), PM2.5 (particulate matter) by floor level (FL), season and building type. We hypothesize that PAH, BC and PM2.5 concentrations may decrease with higher FL and the vertical gradients of these compounds would be affected by heating season and building type. PAH, BC and PM2.5 were measured over a two-week period outdoor and indoor of the residences of a cohort of 5-6 year old children (n = 339) living in New York City's Northern Manhattan and the Bronx. Airborne-pollutant levels were analyzed by three categorized FL groups (0-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-32nd FL) and two building types (low-rise versus high-rise apartment building). Indoor ∑8PAHnonvolatile and BC levels declined with increasing FL. During the nonheating season, the median outdoor ∑8PAHnonvolatile, but not ∑8PAHsemivolatile, level at 6th-2nd FL was 1.5-2 times lower than levels measured at lower FL. Similarly, outdoor and indoor BC concentrations at 6th-32nd FL were significantly lower than those at lower FL only during the nonheating season (p < 0.05). In addition, living in a low-rise building was associated significantly with higher levels of ∑8PAHnonvolatile and BC. These results suggest that young inner city children may be exposed to varying levels of air pollutants depending on their FL, season, and building type.
KW - Building type
KW - Floor level (FL)
KW - Heating season
KW - Outdoor and indoor
KW - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
KW - Traffic-related air pollution
KW - Vertical gradient
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84861570465&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/atmos2020096
DO - 10.3390/atmos2020096
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84861570465
SN - 2073-4433
VL - 2
SP - 96
EP - 109
JO - Atmosphere
JF - Atmosphere
IS - 2
ER -