Author(s)

U. Franck, O. Herbarth, M. Manjarrez, M. Schilde, B. Wehner & A. Wiedensohler

Abstract

Given that people in Central Europe spend most of their time indoors, exposure research needs in particular to concentrate on indoor environments. We still have much to learn about the role of airborne particulates (especially submicrometer and ultrafine particles) within indoor pollution. This study shows that although outdoor particles are an important source for indoor ones, outdoor- to-indoor concentration ratios vary depending on particle size. Introduction It is generally accepted that links exist between airborne particles and morbidity/mortality. At present, PM2.5s (particles < 2.5 pm aerodynamic diameter) are most frequently discussed and used. The various diameter classes (TSP -total suspended matter, PM10, PM4, PM2.5) are selected for a number of reasons, with pragmatic choices being based on the particulate inhalation and retention properties of the human respiratory system, as well as technical aspects of measuring and sampling particles. Only very few epidemiological studies have paid special attention to the ill-health effects of smaller particles such as submicron and ultrafine particles. Moreover, the majority of them were not direct epidemiological investigations, but involved in-vivo and in-vitro experiments. Some fiidings suggest that such particles may be of serious importance for human health [e.g. 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16].

Keywords