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Traffic-Related Air Pollutants: Measurement, Modeling and Respiratory Health Effects

Isiugo, Kelechi I
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1535464094176172

Abstract Details

2018, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Medicine: Industrial Hygiene (Environmental Health).
Exposure to traffic-related air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) are associated with adverse health effects such as reduced lung function. Ground-level ozone (O3) is also associated with reduced lung function, and is formed through photochemical reactions that involve traffic-related air pollutants. Consequently, ambient levels of traffic-related air pollutants and O3 are regulated, and are monitored with reference instruments at monitoring stations. Due to spatial variation of pollutants, concentrations of pollutants in locations far away from monitoring stations, may be uncorrelated with measurements made at monitoring stations. To obtain convenient access to concentrations of pollutants, the analytical industry has produced gas sensors and advertise them as alternatives to reference instruments. However, cofactors of sensor performance such as relative humidity (RH) potentially influence the response of sensors to their target analyte. The first aim of this dissertation was to assess the accuracy of gas sensors for the measurement of ambient O3 and NO2. To achieve the first aim, three commercially available units (Cairclip O3/NO2, Aeroqual NO2, and Aeroqual O3 sensors) were co-located with reference instruments at a monitoring station. The accuracy of measurements from the sensors as compared to measurements made by the reference instruments were calculated. The results showed that none of the sensor measurements were accurate (mean error ≠ ± 25%). After modelling the impacts of cofactors of sensor performance, only the accuracy of the Cairclip O3/NO2 and the Aeroqual O3 sensors considerably improved (mean error = -1% and 14%, respectively). The second aim of this dissertation was to develop a model to predict indoor concentrations of BC. To achieve this aim, home characteristics of 23 homes and occupant activities that potentially modify indoor levels of BC were documented, and indoor and outdoor BC concentrations were repeatedly measured at each home. With the use of a linear mixed model and a leave-one-out cross validation algorithm, the results showed that information on outdoor BC, burning/not burning candles, air filtration, open/closed windows and the presence/absence of kitchen exhaust hoods can explain up to 77% of the variation in indoor BC. The third Specific Aim of this dissertation was to investigate whether indoor particulate matter (PM), including PM2.5 and BC, in contrast to outdoor PM, is a better predictor of lung function. To explore the association between indoor and outdoor PM concentrations and lung function, PM measurements were made indoors and outdoors at the residencies of forty-four asthmatic children, and lung function assessments with a spirometry were performed. There was an observed association between lung function measurements (FEV1/FVC ratio and FEF25-75) and indoor PM, but not with outdoor PM. In conclusion, O3 and NO2 sensors must be tested in the field against reference instruments prior to their use for exposure assessment. As BC is correlated with PM2.5 which has health significance, models for obtaining estimates of indoor BC can be used to investigate indoor environments that may pose a respiratory risk to sensitive individuals such as children with asthma.
Tiina Reponen, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Sergey Grinshpun, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Roman Jandarov (Committee Member)
Nicholas Newman, D.O. (Committee Member)
Patrick Ryan, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Julian Wang, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
251 p.
Environmental Health
black carbon modeling; indoor air quality; pollution sensors; spirometry

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Isiugo, K. I. (2018). Traffic-Related Air Pollutants: Measurement, Modeling and Respiratory Health Effects [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1535464094176172

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Isiugo, Kelechi. Traffic-Related Air Pollutants: Measurement, Modeling and Respiratory Health Effects. 2018. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1535464094176172.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Isiugo, Kelechi. "Traffic-Related Air Pollutants: Measurement, Modeling and Respiratory Health Effects." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1535464094176172

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1535464094176172
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.