Inhalation exposure of children to indoor PM10 and associated metals during river-dust episodes

Three exposure groups (high exposure, low exposure, and control), using six elementary schools in Yulin County, were selected to study the impacts of aeolian river-dust on school children’s exposure to PM₁₀ and associated metals. One classroom and about five school-aged children’s houses for each school were chosen to collect indoor PM₁₀ during the river-dust episodes (RDEs) and non-river-dust episodes (NRDEs). The results indicated that the river-dust episodes had significant impacts on the school-aged children’s exposure to concentrations of PM₁₀ and metals, especially in the high exposure group. For the Ni and Mn metals, the 8-h school exposure concentrations during RDEs were both higher than the standards suggested by the California Environmental Protection Agency. Three interventions for protecting school children from being affected by the river dust during RDEs are suggested in this study. Among the three interventions, children who have a day off of school during RDEs can result in the greatest decrease in the exposure levels of PM₁₀ and associated metals.