Chemical characterization of indoor and outdoor fine particulate matter in an occupied apartment in Rome, Italy

Abstract

The daily concentration and chemical composition of PM2.5 was determined in indoor and outdoor 24-h samples simultaneously collected for a total of 5 weeks during a winter and a summer period in an apartment sited in Rome, Italy. The use of a specifically developed very quiet sampler (<35 dB) allowed the execution of the study while the family living in the apartment led its normal life. The indoor concentration of PM2.5 showed a small seasonal variation, while outdoor values were much higher during the winter study. Outdoor sources were found to contribute significantly to indoor PM concentration especially during the summer, when the apartment was naturally ventilated by opening the windows. During the winter the infiltration of outdoor PM components was lower and mostly regulated by the particle dimensions. Organics displayed In/Out ratios higher than unity during both periods; their indoor production increased significantly during the weekends, where the family stayed mostly at home. PM components were grouped into macrosources (soil, sea, secondary inorganics, traffic, organics). During the summer the main contributions to outdoor PM2.5 came from soil (30%), secondary inorganics (29%) and organics (22%). Organics dominated both indoor PM2.5 during the summer (60%) and outdoor and indoor PM2.5 during the winter (51% and 66%, respectively).

Determinants of serum cadmium levels in a Northern Italy community: A cross-sectional study

“…This limited participation rate might also have induced some degree of selection bias: however, we did not detect major lifestyle-related differences, such as for smoking habits or other personal characteristics, between the study subjects and the overall population on the basis of published data (Ferrante et al, 2012;Gruppo Tecnico PASSI Emilia-Romagna, 2012). Another study limitation is lack of assessment of indoor Cd levels apart from active smoking, since other factors such as passive smoking or cooking may contribute to indoor Cd levels, even if indoor air chemical composition is also influenced by outdoor air (Perrino et al, 2015).…”

Indoor air quality in schools of a highly polluted south Mediterranean area

“…4 Multidisciplinary reports about indoor measurements in heavily polluted areas on health-relevant chemical and physical properties are still scanty. 7,8 Particularly in very polluted areas, such as industrial sites or urban areas of developing countries, indoor air may reflect the poor quality of the outdoor atmosphere, and domestic and school environments, where urban populations-and children in particular-typically spend up to 90% of their time, thus requiring special attention. 7,8 Particularly in very polluted areas, such as industrial sites or urban areas of developing countries, indoor air may reflect the poor quality of the outdoor atmosphere, and domestic and school environments, where urban populations-and children in particular-typically spend up to 90% of their time, thus requiring special attention.…”

Chemical Composition of Indoor and Outdoor PM2.5 in Three Schools in the City of Rome

“…By determining these species, it is generally possible to obtain the mass closure, which is the correspondence between the gravimetric mass and the sum of the main components, and to estimate the main source contributions to PM mass. This method has been applied successfully in outdoor air quality studies [22] and is also appropriate for indoor studies [23].…”