Sources of indoor PM2.5 gross α and β activities measured in 340 homes
2021
Matthaios, Vasileios N. | Liu, Man | Li, Longxiang | Kang, Choong-Min | Vieira, Carolina L.Z. | Gold, Diane R. | Koutrakis, Petros
Particle radioactivity (PR) exposure has been linked to adverse health effects. PR refers to the presence of α- and β-emitting radioisotopes attached to fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅). This study investigated sources contributing to indoor PM₂.₅ gross α- and β-radioactivity levels. We measured activity from long-lived radon progeny radionuclides from archived PM₂.₅ samples collected in 340 homes in Massachusetts during the period 2006–2010. We analyzed the data using linear mixed effects models and positive matrix factorization (PMF) analysis. Indoor PM₂.₅ gross α-activity levels were correlated with sulfur (S), iron (Fe), bromine (Br), vanadium (V), sodium (Na), lead (Pb), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), silicon (Si), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), titanium (Ti), radon (²²²Rn) and black carbon (BC) concentrations (p <0.05). Indoor PM₂.₅ β-activity was correlated with S, As, antimony (Sb), Pb, Br and BC. We identified four indoor PM₂.₅ sources: outdoor air pollution (62%), salt aerosol source (14%), fireworks and environmental tobacco smoke (7%) and indoor mixed dust (17%). Outdoor air pollution was the most significant contributor to indoor PM₂.₅ α- and β-activity levels. The contributions of this source were during the summer months and when windows were open. Indoor mixed dust was also found to contribute to PM₂.₅ α-activity. PM₂.₅ α-activity was further associated with radon during winter months, showing radon's important role as an indoor source of ionizing radiation.
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