Ambient fine particulate matter and daily mortality: a comparative analysis of observed and estimated exposure in 347 cities.

BACKGROUND: Model-estimated air pollution exposure products have been widely used in epidemiological studies to assess the health risks of particulate matter with diameters of ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5). However, few studies have assessed the disparities in health effects between model-estimated and station-observed PM2.5 exposures. METHODS: We collected daily all-cause, respiratory and cardiovascular mortality data in 347 cities across 15 countries and regions worldwide based on the Multi-City Multi-Country collaborative research network. The station-observed PM2.5 data were obtained from official monitoring stations. The model-estimated global PM2.5 product was developed using a machine-learning approach. The associations between daily exposure to PM2.5 and mortality were evaluated using a two-stage analytical approach. RESULTS: We included 15.8 million all-cause, 1.5 million respiratory and 4.5 million cardiovascular deaths from 2000 to 2018. Short-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with a relative risk increase (RRI) of mortality from both station-observed and model-estimated exposures. Every 10-µg/m3 increase in the 2-day moving average PM2.5 was associated with overall RRIs of 0.67% (95% CI: 0.49 to 0.85), 0.68% (95% CI: -0.03 to 1.39) and 0.45% (95% CI: 0.08 to 0.82) for all-cause, respiratory, and cardiovascular mortality based on station-observed PM2.5 and RRIs of 0.87% (95% CI: 0.68 to 1.06), 0.81% (95% CI: 0.08 to 1.55) and 0.71% (95% CI: 0.32 to 1.09) based on model-estimated exposure, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality risks associated with daily PM2.5 exposure were consistent for both station-observed and model-estimated exposures, suggesting the reliability and potential applicability of the global PM2.5 product in epidemiological studies.

Genomic characterisation of bioaerosols within livestock facilities: A systematic review.

Livestock facilities are widely regarded as reservoirs of infectious disease, owing to their abundance in particulate matter (PM) and microbial bioaerosols. Over the past decade, bioaerosol studies have increasingly utilised high throughput sequencing (HTS) to achieve superior throughput, taxonomic resolution, and the detection of unculturable organisms. However, the prevailing focus on amplicon sequencing has limited the identification of viruses and microbial taxa at the species-level. Herein, a literature search was conducted to identify methods capable of overcoming the aforementioned limitations. Screening 1531 international publications resulted in 29 eligible for review. Metagenomics capable of providing rich insights were identified in only three instances. Notably, long-read sequencing was not utilised for metagenomics. This review also identified that sample collection methods lack a uniform approach, highlighted by the differences in sampling equipment, flow rates and durations. Further heterogeneity was introduced by the unique sampling conditions, which makes it challenging to ground new findings within the established literature. For instance, winter was associated with increased microbial abundance and antimicrobial resistance, yet less alpha diversity. Researchers implementing metagenomics into the livestock environment should consider season, the microclimate, and livestock growth stage as influential upon their findings. Considering the increasing accessibility of long-read sequencing, future research should explore its viability within a novel uniform testing protocol for bioaerosol emissions.

Occupational exposure to organotin substances: Development of a liquid chromatographic separation method for 11 organotin compounds in workplace air samples via HPLC-ICP-MS.

Organotin compounds (OTCs) are widely regulated but rank among the most used organometallic compounds in various industrial sectors. They are significantly more toxic than inorganic tin compounds. At workplaces, OTCs can be released as vapors or dust particles and can be absorbed by inhalation or skin contact. Occupational exposure thus represents a great risk for the absorption of OTCs for employees. Methods for OTCs speciation in workplace air monitoring currently do not exist. This study describes the development of a separation method for eleven in Germany regulated OTCs via HPLC-ICP-MS. The method allows a near baseline separation of MMT, MBT, MOT, MPhT, DMT, DBT, DPhT, TMT, TBT, TPhT and TTMT within 22 min on a C18 column and a ternary solvent and flow rate gradient using methanol, acetonitrile, and ultrapure water + 6% (v/v) acetic acid + 0.17% (m/v) α-tropolone. Ten analytes show linearity in the working range of 10 - 100 µg OTCs/L with R² > 0.999. Due to its high volatility the analyte TTMT showed a quadratic relationship between concentration and signal intensity with R² = 0.9998. The determination of the instrumental limits resulted in detection limits between 0.14 and 0.57 µg Sn/L and limits of quantification between 0.49 and 1.97 µg Sn/L. Over the course of this study thermal instability and cross reactivity of OTC in solution became apparent. Formation of two reaction products in mixed OTCs solutions have been observed. These effects will further be examined within development of appropriate sampling and sample preparation for workplace air to provide a suitable method for the determination of OTCs at workplaces according to normative references.

Spatial and temporal variations of currently used pesticides (CUPs) concentrations in ambient air in Wallonia, Belgium.

Pesticides are among the most widely used chemicals thus contributing to a global contamination of the environment. Studies in North America and Europe have reported ambient air concentrations of Currently Used Pesticides in rural and urban locations as well as in remote areas. Monitoring pesticides in air is required for a better understanding of human exposure through inhalation and to assess potential health effects related to this exposure pathway. In this study, 46 pesticides were analyzed in ambient air in sampling stations distributed over Wallonia during a year, from May 2015 to May 2016. Different typologies were defined for sampling sites (remote areas, urban sites, agricultural sites, livestock area, and sites with other professional uses). Ambient air was sampled for 14 days with an active air sampler at a flow rate of 4 m³/h. Quartz filters and PUF/XAD-2/PUF cartridges were used to sample both gas and particulate phase pesticides. On the 46 pesticides studied, 6 insecticides, 18 herbicides and 18 fungicides were detected. Herbicides were measured in 68.3% of samples throughout the year, whereas fungicides and insecticides were measured in 62.6% and 13.2% of the samples, respectively. The highest mean concentrations for all pesticides were measured in spring-summer, whereas few pesticides were measured at low concentrations in winter. Six pesticides were measured in the remote sampling station at lower concentrations than in all other sites highlighting volatility of these pesticides. The highest number of different pesticides and the highest concentrations were measured in agricultural stations, where uses of plant protection products are higher. Finally, less volatile pesticides were only detected near application areas and at low concentrations. Together, these results provide better insight on the spatial and temporal variations of pesticides concentrations in ambient air, which were related to pesticides uses as well to atmospheric volatility and persistence.

Development and demonstration of a data visualization platform of short-term guidelines for ambient air levels of benzene during disaster response in Houston, Texas.

Industrial disasters have caused hazardous air pollution and public health impacts. Response officials have developed limited exposure guidelines to direct them during the event; often, guidelines are outdated and may not represent relevant elevated-exposure periods. The 2019 Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) fire in Houston, Texas led to large-scale releases of benzene and presented a public health threat. This incident highlights the need for effective response and nimble, rapid public health communication. We developed a data-driven visualization tool to store, display, and interpret ambient benzene concentrations to assist health officials during environmental emergencies. Guidance values to interpret risk from acute exposure to benzene were updated using recent literature that also considers exposure periodicity. The visualization platform can process data from different sampling instruments and air monitors automatically, and displays information publicly in real time, along with the associated risk information and action recommendations. The protocol was validated by applying it retrospectively to the ITC event. The new guidance values are 6-30 times lower than those derived by the Texas regulatory agency. Fixed-site monitoring data, assessed using the protocol and revised thresholds, indicated that eight shelter-in-place and 17 air-quality alerts may have been considered. At least one of these shelter-in-place alerts corresponded to prolonged, elevated benzene concentrations (~1000 ppb). This new tool addresses essential gaps in the timely communication of air pollution measurements, provides context to understand potential health risks from exposure to benzene, and provides a clear protocol for local officials in responding to industrial air releases of benzene. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:533-546. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Community-driven research and capacity building to address environmental justice concerns with industrial air pollution in Curtis Bay, South Baltimore.

Introduction: Curtis Bay (CB) is an environmental justice (EJ) community in South Baltimore. With a high concentration of industrial polluters and compounding non-chemical stressors, CB has experienced socioeconomic, quality of life, and health burdens for over 100 years. Today, these polluters include the open-air CSX Coal Terminal, waste-to-energy incinerators, and heavy diesel traffic through residential areas. The Community of Curtis Bay Association, Free Your Voice, and South Baltimore Community Land Trust are local organizations enacting a vision for equitable, healthy, and community-led development without industrial encroachment. In response to community-identified EJ concerns and an explosion at the CSX Coal Terminal, CB community groups partnered with academic researchers to develop a community-driven hyperlocal air monitoring and capacity building approach. This paper describes this approach to characterizing hyperlocal air quality in CB, building bridges between community residents and regulatory agencies, and nurturing a cohesive and effective community-academic partnership toward EJ. Methods: Using hyperlocal air monitoring, we are collecting real-time air pollution (particulate matter, black carbon, and ground-level gas species) and meteorological data from 15 low-cost sensors in residential and industrial areas of CB. We also use trail cameras to record activities at the CSX Coal Terminal. We merge air pollution and industrial activity data to evaluate the following: overall air quality in CB, multi-air pollutant profiles of elevated events, spatiotemporal changes in air quality in the community, patterns of industrial activity, and potential correlations between air quality and observed industrial activity. Members of our partnership also lead a high school course educating students about the history and ongoing efforts of the EJ movement in their community. Students in this course learn how to employ qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods to bring scientific support to community EJ concerns. Results and Discussion: Our hyperlocal air monitoring network and community-academic partnership are continuing to evolve and have already demonstrated the ability to respond to community-identified EJ issues with real-time data while developing future EJ leaders. Our reflections can assist other community and academic groups in developing strong and fruitful partnerships to address similar EJ issues.

Monitoring of airborne fungi during the second wave of COVID-19 in selected wards of the referral university hospital in southeastern Iran.

Microbiological monitoring of the air hospital is essential for prevention and control, due to the possible airborne route of infection transmission, especially in high-risk wards. This study aimed to monitor the airborne fungi during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in selected wards of the biggest university educational hospital in Kerman, southeastern Iran. This study was conducted in 11 different wards, separated into the patient room and nursing station, of the Afzalipour hospital from May to August 2021. Fungal isolates were characterized to the species level by conventional and sequencing methods. Out of 93 obtained fungal colonies, 70 (75.3%) isolates were filamentous and 23 (24.7%) isolates were yeast. Aspergillus species were the predominant fungal isolates among the filamentous colonies (n=19; 27.1%), and Naganishia albida (formerly Cryptococcus albidus) was identified as the most common yeast isolate (n=13/23; 56.8%). The infectious ward was the most contaminated unit (n=19/93), while the least contaminated units were the neonatal intensive care unit (n=3/93), and oncology (n=3/93). The statistical findings displayed that the number of fungal isolates in patients' rooms is significantly higher than in nurses' stations (p-value=0.013). Our study demonstrated the presence of diverse fungal species in all wards of the hospital. Considering the presence of airborne fungi in hospitals and related public health problems is one of the critical issues for health systems management. In this regard, efficient monitoring of airborne fungi might play an influential role in hospital infection control and surveillance, particularly in high-risk hospitalization patients in critical wards.

Inhalation and dermal exposure to biocidal products during foam and spray applications.

OBJECTIVES: Foaming and spraying are common application techniques for biocidal products. In the past, inhalation and dermal exposure during spraying have been investigated extensively. Currently, however, no exposure data are available for foaming, hindering a reliable risk assessment for foam applications of biocidal products. The focus of this project was the quantification of inhalation and potential dermal exposure to non-volatile active substances during the foam application of biocidal products in occupational settings. In some settings, exposure during spray application was measured for comparative purposes. METHODS: The inhalation and dermal exposure of operators were investigated during the application of benzalkonium chlorides and pyrethroids by foaming and spraying, considering both small- and large-scale application devices. Inhalation exposure was measured by personal air sampling; potential dermal exposure was measured using coveralls and gloves. RESULTS: Potential dermal exposure was substantially higher than inhalation exposure. Changing from spraying to foaming reduced inhalation exposure to airborne non-volatile active substances, but had no relevant effect on potential dermal exposure. However, for potential dermal exposure, considerable differences were observed between the application device categories. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this study presents the first comparative exposure data for the foam and spray application of biocidal products in occupational settings with detailed contextual information. The results indicate a reduction of inhalation exposure with foam application compared to spray application. However, special attention is necessary for dermal exposure, which is not reduced by this intervention.

Monitoring the Air Quality in an HVAC System via an Energy Harvesting Device.

The energy consumption of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system represents a large amount of the total for a commercial or civic building. In order to optimize the system performance and to increase the comfort of people living or working in a building, it is necessary to monitor the relevant parameters of the circulating air flux. To this end, an array of sensors (i.e., temperature, humidity, and CO2 percentage sensors) is usually deployed along the aeraulic ducts and/or in various rooms. Generally, these sensors are powered by wires or batteries, but both methods have some drawbacks. In this paper, a possible solution to these drawbacks is proposed. It presents a wireless sensor node powered by an Energy Harvesting (EH) device acted on by the air flux itself. The collected data are transmitted to a central unit via a LoRa radio channel. The EH device can be placed in air ducts or close to air outlets.

MIL-101(Cr)@QCM and MIL-101(Cr)@IDE as Sorbent-Based Humidity Sensors for Indoor Air Monitoring.

MIL-101(Cr) films were deposited on the quartz crystal microbalance and interdigitated electrode transductors as humidity sensors. Both devices combine high sensitivity with fast response/recovery times, good repeatability, long-term stability, favorable selectivity versus toluene alongside a dual mode behavior in the optimal domain of humidity for indoor air.

Key Themes, Trends, and Drivers of Mobile Ambient Air Quality Monitoring: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Mobile ambient air quality monitoring is rapidly changing the current paradigm of air quality monitoring and growing as an important tool to address air quality and climate data gaps across the globe. This review seeks to provide a systematic understanding of the current landscape of advances and applications in this field. We observe a rapidly growing number of air quality studies employing mobile monitoring, with low-cost sensor usage drastically increasing in recent years. A prominent research gap was revealed, highlighting the double burden of severe air pollution and poor air quality monitoring in low- and middle-income regions. Experiment-design-wise, the advances in low-cost monitoring technology show great potential in bridging this gap while bringing unique opportunities for real-time personal exposure, large-scale deployment, and diversified monitoring strategies. The median value of unique observations at the same location in spatial regression studies is ten, which can be used as a rule-of-thumb for future experiment design. Data-analysis-wise, even though data mining techniques have been extensively employed in air quality analysis and modeling, future research can benefit from exploring air quality information from nontabular data, such as images and natural language.

Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate occupational exposure data in industry (1998-2020): A descriptive summary from an industrial hygiene perspective.

This paper provides an overview of airborne methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) concentrations in workplaces across North America and Europe. A total of 7649 samples were collected between 1998 and 2020 by producers of MDI during product stewardship activities at customer sites, primarily using validated OSHA or ISO sampling and analysis techniques. As would be expected from the low vapor pressure of MDI, 80% of the concentrations were less than 0.01 mg/m3 (1 ppb) and 93% were less than 0.05 mg/m3 (5 ppb). Respiratory protection is an integral part of Industrial Hygiene practices; therefore, its use was studied and summarized. While covering a variety of MDI applications, a large number of samples was obtained from composite wood manufacturing facilities, offering specific insight into potential exposures associated with different process sections and job types in this industry sector. Given the potential presence in industrial processes of MDI-containing dust or aerosols, future work should place increased emphasis on also investigating dermal exposure. The data reported in this paper provide valuable information for product stewardship and industrial hygiene purposes throughout the MDI-processing industry.

Novel gas exposure system for the controlled exposure of plants to gaseous hydrogen fluoride.

Plants can serve as sensitive bioindicators of the presence of contaminant vapors in the atmosphere. This work describes a novel laboratory-based gas exposure system capable of calibrating plants as bioindicators for the detection and delineation of the atmospheric contaminant hydrogen fluoride (HF) as a preparatory step for monitoring release emissions. To evaluate changes in plant phenotype and stress-induced physiological effects attributed to HF alone, the gas exposure chamber must have additional controls to simulate otherwise optimal plant growth conditions including variables such as light intensity, photoperiod, temperature, and irrigation. The exposure system was designed to maintain constant growth conditions during a series of independent experiments that varied between optimal (control) and stressful (HF exposure) conditions. The system was also designed to ensure the safe handling and application of HF. An initial system calibration introduced HF gas into the exposure chamber and monitored HF concentrations by cavity ring-down spectroscopy for a 48-h period. Stable concentrations inside the exposure chamber were observed after approximately 15 h, and losses of HF to the system ranged from 88 to 91%. A model plant species (Festuca arundinacea) was then exposed to HF for 48 h. Visual phenotype stress-induced responses aligned with symptoms reported in the literature for fluoride exposure (tip dieback and discoloration along the dieback transition margin). Fluoride concentrations in exposed tissues compared to control tissues confirmed enhanced fluoride uptake due to HF exposure. The system described herein can be applied to other reactive atmospheric pollutants of interest in support of bioindicator research.

Development of ASTM International D8405-Standard Test Method for Evaluating PM2.5 Sensors or Sensor Systems Used in Indoor Applications.

Sensors and sensor systems for monitoring fine particles with aerodynamic diameters smaller than 2.5 µm can provide real-time feedback on indoor air quality and thus can help guide actions to manage indoor air pollutant concentrations. Standardized verification of the performance and accuracy of sensors and sensor systems is crucial for predicting the efficacy of such monitoring. A new ASTM International standard test method (ASTM D8405) was created for this need and is the most exacting laboratory protocol published to date for evaluating indoor air quality sensors and sensor systems measuring particles smaller than 2.5 µm in diameter. ASTM D8405 subjects sensors and sensor systems to five test phases: (1) an initial particle concentration ramp; (2) exposure to various temperature and humidity conditions; (3) exposure to interfering particles; (4) temperature cycling; and (5) a final particle concentration ramp to assess drift. This paper discusses the development of the standard test method, key aspects of the testing process, example evaluation results, and a comparison of this standard test method against peer evaluation protocols.

Monitoring ambient air pollution and pulmonary function in asthmatic children by mobile applications in COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Several public health measures were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about the real-time assessment of environmental exposure on the pulmonary function of asthmatic children. Therefore, we developed a mobile phone application for capturing real-time day-to-day dynamic changes in ambient air pollution during the pandemic. We aim to explore the change in ambient air pollutants between pre-lockdown, lockdowns, and lockdowns and analyze the association between pollutants and PEF mediated by mite sensitization and seasonal change. METHOD: A prospective cohort study was conducted among 511 asthmatic children from January 2016 to February 2022. Smartphone-app used to record daily ambient air pollution, particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) Ozon (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), average temperature, and relative humidity, which measured and connected from 77 nearby air monitoring stations by linking to Global Positioning System (GPS)-based software. The outcome of pollutants' effect on peak expiratory flow meter (PEF) and asthma is measured by a smart peak flow meter from each patient or caregiver's phone for real-time assessment. RESULTS: The lockdown (May 19th, 2021, to July 27th, 2021) was associated with decreased levels of all ambient air pollutants aside from SO2 after adjusting for 2021. NO2 and SO2 were constantly associated with decreased levels of PEF across lag 0 (same day when the PEF was measured), lag 1 (one day before PEF was measured), and lag 2 (two days prior when the PEF was measured. Concentrations of CO were associated with PEF only in children who were sensitized to mites in lag 0, lag 1, and lag 2 in the stratification analysis for a single air pollutant model. Based on the season, spring has a higher association with the decrease of PEF in all pollutant exposure than other seasons. CONCLUSION: Using our developed smartphone apps, we identified that NO2, CO, and PM10 were higher at the pre-and post-COVID-19 lockdowns than during the lockdown. Our smartphone apps may help collect personal air pollution data and lung function, especially for asthmatic patients, and may guide protection against asthma attacks. It provides a new model for individualized care in the COVID era and beyond.

Research into the current radiological state of air and monitoring observations on STS and the adjacent territory.

The article presents the assessment of levels and the pattern of STS air radioactive contamination. Levels of air radioactive contamination with artificial radionuclides at different distances from ground zeros of nuclear tests (0.08-10 km) were determined. The maximum concentration of 239+240Pu in the air did not exceed 6.5·10-3 Bq/m3 at the crater ridge of the "Atomic Lake", the one at the P3 technical site, the "Experimental Field", reached 1.6·10-2 Bq/m3. Based upon monitoring observation data (2016-2021) on the STS territory, 239+240Pu concentration in the air of the "Balapan" and "Degelen" sites varied between 3.0·10-9 and 1.1·10-6 Bq/m3. In settlements adjacent to the STS territory, 239+240Pu concentrations in the air is: Kurchatov t. - 3.0·10-9 to 6.0·10-7 Bq/m3, the Dolon small village - 4.5·10-9 to 5.8·10-6 Bq/m3, the Sarzhal small village - 4.4·10-7 to 1.3·10-6 Bq/m3. Values derived for concentrations of artificial radionuclides at STS observation posts and the adjacent territory are at the level of background values for this region.

Cadmium Monitoring at the Workplace: Effectiveness of a Combination of Air- and Biomonitoring.

Inhalation exposure to cadmium at the workplace has been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer and non-cancer respiratory effects. To ensure levels of cadmium remain below effect levels, air quality is monitored and regulations specifying an air limit value are implemented. The EU Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive of 2019 recommended values for the inhalable fraction and the respirable fraction but the latter only for a transitional period. Cadmium exposure has also been associated with systemic effects, following its storage in the kidneys and due to its long half-life. The accumulation of cadmium occurs via different exposure routes and from different sources, including workplace dust and fumes, food, and smoking. Biomonitoring (in blood, urine) has been identified as the most appropriate method to follow up cumulative exposure and total cadmium body burden, as it conveniently reflects intakes by all routes. However, it is not systematically implemented. This paper has a double objective: first, proposing a possible limit value for the respirable fraction, using an approach integrating epidemiological data. Secondly, demonstrating that the implementation of both air and biological limit values is key to protecting workers' health in occupational settings. The paper summarizes the current knowledge on cadmium health effects and how biomarkers reflect those. It presents an approach to derive a respirable value, using recent human data, and describes how the combination of air monitoring and biomonitoring is applied by the EU industry to protect the workforce. While a respirable fraction value helps protect workers against local respiratory adverse health effects, air monitoring alone is not sufficient to protect workers against systemic effects of cadmium. Therefore, complementary biomonitoring and the implementation of a biological limit value is recommended.

Concept Development and Field Testing of Wireless Outdoor Indicator System for Use in Monitoring Exposures at Work among Malaysian Traffic Police.

Real-time exposure air monitoring is essential to protect the respiratory health of the Malaysian traffic police. However, the data from monitoring stations have been inadequate to provide accurate information about their exposure. This report describes the conceptual design of a wireless exposure indicator system, and then evaluates the field performance of the system by collocation. The study tested the accuracy of particulate matter size 2.5 (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by comparing the measurements from the prototype with the measurements from reference instruments. The field testing found that the data tested were significantly correlated with each other (PM2.5-rs = 0.207, p = 0.019; NO2-rs = 0.576, p = 0.02 and CO-rs = 0.545, p = 0.04). The prototype proved to be successful as it can compute and transmit real-time monitoring data on the level of exposure to harmful air.

Participant engagement to develop report-back materials for personal air monitoring.

Background: Studies that measure environmental exposures in biological samples frequently provide participants their results. In contrast, studies using personal air monitors do not typically provide participants their monitoring results. The objective of this study was to engage adolescents who completed personal air sampling and their caregivers to develop understandable and actionable report-back documents containing the results of their personal air sampling. Methods: Adolescents and their caregivers who previously completed personal air sampling participated in focus groups to guide the development of report-back materials. We conducted thematic analyses of focus group data to guide the design of the report-back document and convened experts in community engagement, reporting study results, and human subjects research to provide feedback. Final revisions to the report-back document were made based on follow-up focus group feedback. Results: Focus groups identified critical components of an air-monitoring report-back document to include an overview of the pollutant being measured, a comparison of individual personal sampling data to the overall study population, a guide to interpreting results, visualization of individual data, and additional information on pollution sources, health risks, and exposure reduction strategies. Participants also indicated their desire to receive study results in an electronic and interactive format. The final report-back document was electronic and included background information, participants' results presented using interactive maps and figures, and additional material regarding pollution sources. Conclusion: Studies using personal air monitoring technology should provide research participants their results in an understandable and meaningful way to empower participants with increased knowledge to guide exposure reduction strategies.

Fluorescence Methods for the Detection of Bioaerosols in Their Civil and Military Applications.

The article presents the history of the development and the current state of the apparatus for the detection of interferents and biological warfare simulants in the air with the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) method. The LIF method is the most sensitive spectroscopic method and also enables the measurement of single particles of biological aerosols and their concentration in the air. The overview covers both the on-site measuring instruments and remote methods. The spectral characteristics of the biological agents, steady-state spectra, excitation-emission matrices, and their fluorescence lifetimes are presented. In addition to the literature, we also present our own detection systems for military applications.