CHARACTERISTICS OF SHANGHAI'S URBAN RESIDENTIAL PM: MONITORING PERSONAL EXPOSURE THROUGH AIR FILTRATION DEVISES

Previous studies, which have shown that PM2.5, PM10, and black carbon have detrimental effects on human health in Shanghai, have led to a rise in a wide range of personal commercial air filter models on the consumer market. However, there have not been systematic previous studies that evaluate the range of PM that these air-filtering devises actually trap. This study addresses this gap in the literature by looking into the composition of particulate matter trapped by commercial personal air filters marketed to individual end users concerned about exposure to PM in both residential and office settings. After gathering the PM trapped on air filters with dust wipes, over the period of a month, X-ray fluoresce (XRF) will be used to determine the bulk metals on the air filter. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (E-SEM-EDS) will also be used to determine the grain size and chemistry of the sampled particulates. Dust wipe samples were also collected from around the household (for example: counter top surfaces and windowsills), in order to determine the types of particulates that personal air filtering devices do not have the ability to effectively trap. Determining the composition of PM trapped by air filters compared with PM that has settled as dust within the household urban residence will provide insight into the effectiveness of commercial air filters, as well as the possible sources of PM. Although there are various air filtration systems on the market, the most vulnerable population in Shanghai, the urban poor, cannot afford many of these systems and therefore, are subject to the full effects of all different types of PM. Determining if cost effective personal air filtering devices can efficiently reduce individual exposure to urban PM has the potential to prioritize future public health policy education and action to minimize the negative impact of urban air quality in Shanghai.