Personal Exposure to Black Carbon: Impact of Time-Activity Patterns and Environmental Factors on Exposure Levels
Black carbon (BC) is a critical environmental pollutant with significant implications for human health. This study aims to quantify personal exposure to BC by focusing on the influence of microenvironments and time-activity patterns in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) region of South Texas, USA. Over eig...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Environmental Challenges |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010024002129 |
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| author | Sai Deepak Pinakana Johnathan R. Gonzalez Amit U. Raysoni |
| author_facet | Sai Deepak Pinakana Johnathan R. Gonzalez Amit U. Raysoni |
| author_sort | Sai Deepak Pinakana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Black carbon (BC) is a critical environmental pollutant with significant implications for human health. This study aims to quantify personal exposure to BC by focusing on the influence of microenvironments and time-activity patterns in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) region of South Texas, USA. Over eight days in March and April 2023, a portable aethalometer and GPS tracking instruments were used to measure BC exposure among a study participant, alongside recording the time spent in various microenvironments. The BC measurements were correlated to the time activity patterns to calculate BC inhaled dosage values thereby elucidating its impact on human health. The mean values for different hours ranged from the lowest,0.26 µg/m³ ± 0.29 at 02:00, to the highest, 1.07 µg/m³ ± 1.40 at 17:00. The study also identified peak BC levels in areas near major roadways and airports. Outdoor activities accounted for 31% - 33% of the BC inhaled dosage on weekends, which was much higher than the 0.10% - 1.42% contribution observed on weekdays. The results also reflect a negative impact of Mexican wildfire activities on black carbon in this border region. This research provides insights into one of the first black carbon measurement studies conducted in the South Texas, U.S.– Tamaulipas State, Mexico border region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-84c546e2e6ea4ee9aa4755a197e38f18 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2667-0100 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Challenges |
| spelling | doaj-art-84c546e2e6ea4ee9aa4755a197e38f182024-12-17T05:01:35ZengElsevierEnvironmental Challenges2667-01002024-12-0117101046Personal Exposure to Black Carbon: Impact of Time-Activity Patterns and Environmental Factors on Exposure LevelsSai Deepak Pinakana0Johnathan R. Gonzalez1Amit U. Raysoni2School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78526, USASchool of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78526, USACorresponding Author: School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, LSHB 2.818C, One West University Blvd, Brownsville, TX 78520, USA, Tel: +1-956-882-8835; School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, TX 78526, USABlack carbon (BC) is a critical environmental pollutant with significant implications for human health. This study aims to quantify personal exposure to BC by focusing on the influence of microenvironments and time-activity patterns in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) region of South Texas, USA. Over eight days in March and April 2023, a portable aethalometer and GPS tracking instruments were used to measure BC exposure among a study participant, alongside recording the time spent in various microenvironments. The BC measurements were correlated to the time activity patterns to calculate BC inhaled dosage values thereby elucidating its impact on human health. The mean values for different hours ranged from the lowest,0.26 µg/m³ ± 0.29 at 02:00, to the highest, 1.07 µg/m³ ± 1.40 at 17:00. The study also identified peak BC levels in areas near major roadways and airports. Outdoor activities accounted for 31% - 33% of the BC inhaled dosage on weekends, which was much higher than the 0.10% - 1.42% contribution observed on weekdays. The results also reflect a negative impact of Mexican wildfire activities on black carbon in this border region. This research provides insights into one of the first black carbon measurement studies conducted in the South Texas, U.S.– Tamaulipas State, Mexico border region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010024002129Black carbonPersonal exposureInhaled doseTime-activity patternsWildfire smoke |
| spellingShingle | Sai Deepak Pinakana Johnathan R. Gonzalez Amit U. Raysoni Personal Exposure to Black Carbon: Impact of Time-Activity Patterns and Environmental Factors on Exposure Levels Environmental Challenges Black carbon Personal exposure Inhaled dose Time-activity patterns Wildfire smoke |
| title | Personal Exposure to Black Carbon: Impact of Time-Activity Patterns and Environmental Factors on Exposure Levels |
| title_full | Personal Exposure to Black Carbon: Impact of Time-Activity Patterns and Environmental Factors on Exposure Levels |
| title_fullStr | Personal Exposure to Black Carbon: Impact of Time-Activity Patterns and Environmental Factors on Exposure Levels |
| title_full_unstemmed | Personal Exposure to Black Carbon: Impact of Time-Activity Patterns and Environmental Factors on Exposure Levels |
| title_short | Personal Exposure to Black Carbon: Impact of Time-Activity Patterns and Environmental Factors on Exposure Levels |
| title_sort | personal exposure to black carbon impact of time activity patterns and environmental factors on exposure levels |
| topic | Black carbon Personal exposure Inhaled dose Time-activity patterns Wildfire smoke |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667010024002129 |
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