Measured outdoor exposure levels

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Utilization

This group of information includes measured outdoor exposure levels i.e. ambient air concentrations. This kind of information can be used as exposure modifier when modeling indoor exposure levels. The indoor level of pollutants is also dependable of the outdoor concentration of that pollutant as some of the outdoor air penetrates to the indoors effecting the exposure levels. When utilizing the outdoor concentration to the indoor exposure modeling, you also need to know the air-exchange rate of the building and/or the penetration factor of the pollutant.

Limitations

The main limitation on using the measured outdoor concentrations for calculating the exposure levels indoors is the fact that the measured concentration describes the true situation only for the measured space and time.

Linked databases with measured outdoor exposure levels

The European Air quality dataBase
Short description

The European Air quality dataBase - AirBase is maintained by the European Topic Centre for Air and Climate Change A total of 34 countries (until 2004) have reported air quality data to this monitoring network, including all from the European Union with 1320 sites across Europe. Most common pollutants reported are CO, NOx (NO and NO2), ozone, PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and TSP, with a minor number of countries also reporting on metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and various organic compounds. Level of information is dependable of the year and country and data can be presented as statistics, raw data or meta-information. The statistics and raw data are shown either as a table or in a graph (where one can choose between daily or hourly values). Statistical values indicate annual mean, maximum, and the 50, 95 and 98 percentile values.

Regional coverage

Europe: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia FYR of, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom

The AirData Web
Short description

The AirData Web site gives you access to air pollution data for the entire United States. AirData includes annual summaries of air pollution data from two EPA AQS (Air Quality System) database providing air monitoring data - ambient concentrations of criteria (carbon Monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), and lead) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) at monitoring sites, primarily in cities and towns. AirData includes also emission data from NEI (National Emission Inventory) database providing estimates of annual emissions of criteria (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), volatile organic compounds, and ammonia) and hazardous air pollutants from all types of sources (stationary and mobile sources). The NEI database in 2002 replaced two separate EPA databases for emissions of criteria air pollutants (National Emission Trends, or NET) and hazardous air pollutants (National Toxics Inventory, or NTI).

Regional coverage

USA, all states

Exposure concentration database
Short description

The purpose of the Concentration Database (ConcDb) is to gather data from published personal exposure concentration studies and provide a simple way to search through the results of the studies. Selection criteria for the studies included is that the study design has to be representative in the city or national level. At least the following comprehensive studies are included: EXPOLIS, SHIELDS, NHANES, GerES, TEAM, NHEXAS and MACBETH. For practical reasons results are usually presented as statistical values (mean, percentiles etc.), but in addition this database also provides the measured concentrations of EXPOLIS study as individual samples.

At the moment this database provides following information for each case:

  • Agent of the study
  • Target area of the study (in country and/or city level)
  • Type of concentrations environment
  • Describes the microenvironment or medium where concentrations have been measured (home indoor/outdoor, personal, work, drinking water, indoor dust, human, soil, beverage, food, in-vehicle, school)
  • Description of the data
  • Description of the study
  • Reference of the study
  • Some relevant additional information

The user can define the search according to the specific compound, target country and few larger studies by their name.

Regional coverage
HEDS
Short description

NHEXAS Phase I consists of three demonstration/scoping studies using probability-based sampling designs. Volunteer participants were randomly selected from several areas of the U.S. These studies included personal exposure, residential concentration, and biomarker measurements. The Arizona study was conducted in Arizona, and measured metals, pesticides, and VOCs. The Maryland study was conducted in Maryland, and measured metals, pesticides, and PAHs. The Region 5 study was conducted in EPA's Region 5 (Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota), and measured metals and VOCs. Researchers worked with the participants to measure the level of chemicals in the air they breathed; in foods and beverages they consumed, including drinking water; in the soil and dust around their homes; and in their blood and urine. Participants completed questionnaires to help identify possible sources of chemical exposure. Sample collection occurred between 1995 and 1997.

Regional coverage
EMEP measurement data
Short description

Includes measured data from 36 European countries. Measured components and time frame of measurements varies between cases. Measured pollutants include Acidifying and eutrophying compounds, ozone, heavy metals, POPs, particulate matter (Joint EMEP, GAW-WDCA and CREATE database) and VOC.

Regional coverage

Europe: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, FYR of Macedonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ukraine