Development of a New Health Metric for Fine Particles Based on Differential Toxicity

JINGYU LEE, Minhan Park, Kihong Park, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology

     Abstract Number: 663
     Working Group: Identifying and Addressing Disparate Health and Social Impacts of Exposure to Aerosols and Other Contaminants across Continents, Communities, and Microenvironments

Abstract
As the health hazards of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) have become a prominent issue, research has been conducted to develop quantifiable indicators to assess its impact. However, the PM2.5 mass concentration fails to consider the variability in toxicity of PM2.5 based on its chemical composition. The oxidative potential (OP) lacks direct correlations with the health impacts of PM2.5. The risk of PM2.5 risk should consider both toxicity and exposure. Therefore, health metrics that can reflect the chemical composition of PM2.5 and differential toxicity, as well as the level of exposure of PM2.5.

In this study, the toxicity score considered the relationship between chemical composition of PM2.5 from emission sources and toxicity. To calculate the toxicity score, toxicity data (Oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, DNA damage, inflammation, and OP) of engine exhaust particles (diesel and gasoline), biomass burning particles (pine stem and rice straw), coal combustion particles, and cooking particles used.

Previous research about considering exposure of PM2.5 considered toxicity of PM2.5 indirectly. To avoid this problem, all PM2.5 mass concentration data was combined. Exposure score was calculated based on the PM2.5 mass concentration using various regression models. The exposure score was assigned a value of 0 for a mass concentration of 0, a value of 5 for the average PM2.5 mass concentration, and a value of 10 for the maximum PM2.5 mass concentration.

The new health metric was applied to the ambient PM2.5 data collected from Beijing and Gwangju site during the winter of 2018, summer and winter of 2019, and winter of 2020. Additionally, data collected in Gimje site during the summer of 2020, winter of 2021, (livestock agricultural site) and summer of 2021 (crop agricultural site) were also included in the analysis.