Use of personal passive samplers for measurement of NO2, NO, and O-3 levels in panel studies

We measured personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen monoxide (NO), and ozone (O-3), using personal passive samplers during three 4-day p eriods, in a panel study of asthmatics continuing the normal activities of everyday life, Fifty-five adults, mean age 42 years, 53% men, and 39 childr en, mean age 11 years, 67% boys,wore two Ogawa passive samplers simultaneou sly: one for O-3, the other for NO2 and NO. Mean outdoor pollution was meas ured at a regional monitoring network, Personal exposure levels were scatte red; they were (on average) higher than stationary-site levels for NO and l ower for NO2 and O-3. In adults, 41% of the variance of personal exposure t o NO2 was explained by mean stationary-site measurement levels (P < 0.0001) , Twenty-one percent additional variance was explained by living near a mai n road, not having an extractor fan over the cooker, older age, and male se x. NO and O-3 personal exposures correlated poorly with stationary-site mea surements. In panel studies of the health effects of air pollution, persona l exposure to NO2 and NO can be measured satisfactorily by passive samplers : such measurements are necessary for NO but not for NO2, For O-3, accurate personal exposure measurement remains a challenge and further technical de velopment is required. (C) 1999 Academic Press.