Toxicity and elemental composition of particulate matter from outdoor and indoor air of elementary schools in Munich, Germany: Toxicity of school PM10
Open accessAbstract
UNLABELLED: Outdoor particulate matter (PM(10)) is associated with detrimental health effects. However, individual PM(10) exposure occurs mostly indoors. We therefore compared the toxic effects of classroom, outdoor, and residential PM(10). Indoor and outdoor PM(10) was collected from six schools in Munich during teaching hours and in six homes. Particles were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Toxicity was evaluated in human primary keratinocytes, lung epithelial cells and after metabolic activation by several human cytochromes P450. We found that PM(10) concentrations during teaching hours were 5.6-times higher than outdoors (117 ± 48 μg/m(3) vs. 21 ± 15 μg/m(3), P < 0.001). Compared to outdoors, indoor PM contained more silicate (36% of particle number), organic (29%, probably originating from human skin), and Ca-carbonate particles (12%, probably originating from paper). Outdoor PM contained more Ca-sulfate particles (38%). Indoor PM at 6 μg/cm(2) (10 μg/ml) caused toxicity in keratinocytes and in cells expressing CYP2B6 and CYP3A4. Toxicity by CYP2B6 was abolished with the reactive oxygen species scavenger N-acetylcysteine. We concluded that outdoor PM(10) and indoor PM(10) from homes were devoid of toxicity. Indoor PM(10) was elevated, chemically different and toxicologically more active than outdoor PM(10). Whether the effects translate into a significant health risk needs to be determined. Until then, we suggest better ventilation as a sensible option. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Indoor air PM(10) on an equal weight base is toxicologically more active than outdoor PM(10). In addition, indoor PM(10) concentrations are about six times higher than outdoor air. Thus, ventilation of classrooms with outdoor air will improve air quality and is likely to provide a health benefit. It is also easier than cleaning PM(10) from indoor air, which has proven to be tedious.
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Only a few recent studies refer to elementary schools.
“There are some recent studies reporting indoor and outdoor aerosol behaviour and its chemical composition (e.g., Chao and Wong, 2002;Na et al., 2004;Gemenetzis et al., 2006;Martuzevicius et al., 2008;Olson et al., 2008;Smolík et al., 2008Lai et al., 2010;Saraga et al., 2010;Zhu et al., 2010;Huang et al., 2012), but only a few refer to elementary schools (Fromme et al., 2008;Almeida et al., 2012;O”
From Comfort Parameters and Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in School Classrooms and Outdoor Air (2013) · cites this paper as Oeder et al., 2012
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Pegas, P. N., Nunes, T., Alves, C. A., Silva, J. R., Vieira, S. L. A., Caseiro, A., & Pio, C. A. (2012) · Atmospheric Environment · doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.03.059 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Zwoździak, A., Sówka, I., Krupińska, B., Zwoździak, J., & Nych, A. (2013) · Building and Environment · doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2013.04.023 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Comfort Parameters and Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in School Classrooms and Outdoor Air
Alves, C., Nunes, T., Silva, J., & Duarte, M. (2013) · Aerosol and Air Quality Research · doi:10.4209/aaqr.2012.11.0321 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
“, 2012), but only a few refer to elementary schools (Fromme et al., 2008; Almeida et al., 2012; Oeder et al., 2012; Pegas et al., 2012; Smolík et al., 2012).”
- Authors
- Oeder, S., Dietrich, S., Weichenmeier, I., Schober, W., Pusch, G., Jörres, R. A., Schierl, R., Nowak, D., Fromme, H., Behrendt, H., & Buters, J. T. M.
- Affiliations
- Helmholtz Munich (DE)
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
- Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Buters, J. T. M.
- Venue
- Indoor Air
- Publisher
- Hindawi Limited
- Published
- 2011-10-24
- Volume
- 22
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 148-158
- ISSN
- 0905-6947 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1935255033
- Cited by
- 127
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 8.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Indoor Air (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- mediaTUM (Technical University of Munich) (submittedVersion)
- Site cant be reached (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Christine Kühne – Center for Allergy Research and Education
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Keywords
- particulate matter, PM10, indoor air quality, school ventilation, elemental composition, keratinocyte toxicity, lung epithelial cells, cytochrome P450, CYP2B6, CYP3A4, reactive oxygen species, N-acetylcysteine, silicate particles, calcium carbonate particles, calcium sulfate, organic particles, indoor-outdoor comparison, Munich
- MeSH terms
- Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases, Biotransformation, Calcium Carbonate, Cell Line, Cells, Cultured, Child, Germany, Housing, Humans, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating, Particle Size, Schools, Silicon, Sulfur, Keratinocytes, Air Pollution, Indoor, Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A, Particulate Matter, Cytochrome P-450 CYP2B6
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