Insights into Indoor/Outdoor PM Concentration Ratios due to Dust Storms in an Arid Region

Atmosphere

Helena Krasnov²  Itzhak Katra²  Michael D. Friger¹ 

[1] Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel; E-Mail:;Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel; E-Mail:

关键词: PM;    indoor;    outdoor;    dust storms;    spatial distribution;    arid areas;   

DOI  :  10.3390/atmos6070879

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Dust storms have impacts on both human and physical environments, associated with an increase in atmospheric particulate matter (PM) concentrations. Most studies on exposure to PM have focused on the outdoor air, while information on indoor pollution, is still lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of desert dust events on PM concentrations in indoor environments. A total of over 200 real time measurements of PM were conducted in houses in the Negev Desert during dust storms. Indoor and outdoor PM concentrations were characterized, as well as the relationships between the two datasets. The findings indicated that atmospheric PM₁₀ concentrations can increase from 20–120 μg·m⁻³ on non-dust days to more than 1500 μg·m⁻³ during dust events. Indoor concentrations can reach as high as 1000 μg·m⁻³. The calculated indoor/outdoor (I/O) PM ratio ranged from 0.79 for low-level storms to 0.58 during stronger events. Indoor PM concentrations were found to be dependent on the dust storm intensity (low, medium, high) and duration with a time lag. The information obtained in this study is critical for assessment of policy interventions to reduce exposure risk and health effects due dust storms.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.