Assessment of the exposure to PM(2.5) in different Lebanese microenvironments at different temporal scales

The weak potential of using the sole outdoor concentrations to represent personal exposure to PM(2.5) is confirmed by the literature; therefore, it is important to account for a person’s movements over time when estimating the short-term personal air pollution exposure within different microenvironments (MEs). This study is an example of applying an assessment method of the exposure to PM(2.5) in different microenvironments at different temporal scales. A low-cost particle counter (the Dylos 1700) was used; its performance was validated in comparison with equivalent instruments such the SidePak AM520 Personal Aerosol Monitor (R(2) = 0.89). This validation also provided a function to convert measured particle number concentrations (PNCs) into calculated particle mass concentrations. The 150 profiles that was collected on a minute-by-minute basis regarding PM(2.5) concentration from December 2018 to May 2021 highlight the influence of individual activities and contextual factors on the air quality, so that Lebanon’s annual PM(2.5) mean (24.2 µg⁄m(3)) is 142% higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) annual mean guideline (10 µg⁄m(3)). Winter is the most polluted period due to the increased application of space heating devices. Additionally, the occurrence of dusty winds during the spring period leads to the elevated levels of dispersed PM(2.5). Simultaneously, the rural zones are more polluted than urban ones due to the usage of more traditional heating equipment, in addition to the usage of chemical products like pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural activities in such areas. Furthermore, the (outdoor–indoor–transport) MEs indicate that the transport and indoor MEs have similar levels of suspended fine particulates, while outdoor MEs are less polluted. Studies based on the personal exposure to PM(2.5) were generally applied on specific and limited places such as schools, workplaces, or residences. The study aims to shed light on the modern method in an attempt to estimate the personal exposure to PM(2.5) and to inspire similar studies to achieve the maximum efficiency. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10661-022-10607-6.