{
  "abstract": "Background Children are a high-risk population for the harmful effects of air pollution, and efforts to tackle their exposure have become a priority. Identifying when and where children are exposed to air pollution is critical to inform policy interventions.Methods We engaged child citizen scientists to measure exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ug/m3) in the household, school, and during the school commutes using portable low-cost air pollution sensors in Bradford, England. Continuous air quality monitoring occurred over 24-hours, during school days (Monday-Friday) in three rounds (October-December 2021, February-April 2022 and May-July 2022). The low-cost air quality sensors were co-located to a reference monitor in the classrooms during the day. Children were given travel diaries to document transportation modes during the school commute and any locations they visited on each day.Results Across all three data collection periods, mean (standard deviation) 24-hour personal exposure to PM 2.5 was 7.9 (10.3) ug/m3. Children experienced the highest exposure to PM2.5 indoors at home, (12.6 (45.2) ug/m3), and during commutes to (9.1 (44.6) ug/m3) and from school (0.8 (44.0) ug/m3 ), with exposure levels at least two times higher than in schools (4.4 (18.0) ug/m3). Nearly 40% of children were exposed to a median two out of 15 days (interquartile range 1–3) PM2.5 greater than the World Health Organisation recommended 24-hour exposure limit of 15 ug/m3. Exposure to PM2.5 was similar between children who drove to school (7.8 (33.5) ug/m3) and those that walked or cycled to school (7.1 (33.8) ug/m3).Conclusion The study demonstrates high levels of children’s exposure to air pollution at home and during the school commute. Initiatives to improve indoor air quality in people’s homes and reduce traffic related pollution are likely to substantially reduce the harmful pollution children are exposed to.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Bradford Institute of Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foun, Bradford, UK",
        "Population Health Improvement (PHI), UK Research and Innovation, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Faith Moyo"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Bradford Institute of Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foun, Bradford, UK",
        "Population Health Improvement (PHI), UK Research and Innovation, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Tiffany Yang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute of Climate and Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK",
        "Science Laboratory Technology Department, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Nigeria"
      ],
      "name": "Aisha Shittu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Software Sustainability Institute, Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Kirsty J Pringle"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute of Climate and Atmospheric Science, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jim B McQuaid"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Bradford Institute of Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foun, Bradford, UK",
        "Population Health Improvement (PHI), UK Research and Innovation, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Cathy Knamiller"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Bradford Institute of Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foun, Bradford, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Helen Rattray"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Bradford Institute of Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foun, Bradford, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jamie Thorpe"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Bradford Institute of Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foun, Bradford, UK",
        "Population Health Improvement (PHI), UK Research and Innovation, London, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Rosie R McEachan"
    }
  ],
  "title": "OP12 Characterizing air pollution exposure levels among school children: a citizen science study in Bradford, United Kingdom",
  "uid": "b47aa4e3-0aac-58dd-ad3f-eb3eed8213ea"
}