Evaluation of Potential Average Daily Doses (ADDs) of PM(2.5) for Homemakers Conducting Pan-Frying Inside Ordinary Homes under Four Ventilation Conditions

Several studies reported that commercial barbecue restaurants likely contribute to the indoor emission of particulate matters with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less (PM(2.5)) while pan-frying meat. However, there is inadequate knowledge of exposure level to indoor PM(2.5) in homes and the contribution of a typical indoor pan-frying event. We measured the indoor PM(2.5) concentration and, using Monte-Carlo simulation, estimated potential average daily dose (ADD) of PM(2.5) for homemakers pan-frying a piece of pork inside ordinary homes. Convenience-based sampling at 13 homes was conducted over four consecutive days in June 2013 (n = 52). Although we pan-fried 100 g pork for only 9 min, the median (interquartile range, IQR) value was 4.5 (2.2–5.6) mg/m(3) for no ventilation and 0.5 (0.1–1.3) mg/m(3) with an active stove hood ventilation system over a 2 h sampling interval. The probabilities that the ADDs from inhalation of indoor PM(2.5) would be higher than the ADD from inhalation of PM(2.5) on an outdoor roadside (4.6 μg/kg·day) were 99.44%, 97.51%, 93.64%, and 67.23%, depending on the ventilation conditions: (1) no window open; (2) one window open in the kitchen; (3) two windows open, one each in the kitchen and living room; and (4) operating a forced-air stove hood, respectively.