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Humidity and Gravimetric Equivalency Adjustments for Nephelometer-Based Particulate Matter Measurements of Emissions from Solid Biomass Fuel Use in Cookstoves

Author

Listed:
  • Sutyajeet Soneja

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Chen Chen

    (Program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • James M. Tielsch

    (Department of Global Health, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA)

  • Joanne Katz

    (Program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Scott L. Zeger

    (Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • William Checkley

    (Program in Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
    Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Frank C. Curriero

    (Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Patrick N. Breysse

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

Abstract

Great uncertainty exists around indoor biomass burning exposure-disease relationships due to lack of detailed exposure data in large health outcome studies. Passive nephelometers can be used to estimate high particulate matter (PM) concentrations during cooking in low resource environments. Since passive nephelometers do not have a collection filter they are not subject to sampler overload. Nephelometric concentration readings can be biased due to particle growth in high humid environments and differences in compositional and size dependent aerosol characteristics. This paper explores relative humidity (RH) and gravimetric equivalency adjustment approaches to be used for the pDR-1000 used to assess indoor PM concentrations for a cookstove intervention trial in Nepal. Three approaches to humidity adjustment performed equivalently (similar root mean squared error). For gravimetric conversion, the new linear regression equation with log-transformed variables performed better than the traditional linear equation. In addition, gravimetric conversion equations utilizing a spline or quadratic term were examined. We propose a humidity adjustment equation encompassing the entire RH range instead of adjusting for RH above an arbitrary 60% threshold. Furthermore, we propose new integrated RH and gravimetric conversion methods because they have one response variable (gravimetric PM 2.5 concentration), do not contain an RH threshold, and is straightforward.

Suggested Citation

  • Sutyajeet Soneja & Chen Chen & James M. Tielsch & Joanne Katz & Scott L. Zeger & William Checkley & Frank C. Curriero & Patrick N. Breysse, 2014. "Humidity and Gravimetric Equivalency Adjustments for Nephelometer-Based Particulate Matter Measurements of Emissions from Solid Biomass Fuel Use in Cookstoves," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:6:p:6400-6416:d:37282
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kristen D. Ojo & Sutyajeet I. Soneja & Carolyn G. Scrafford & Subarna K. Khatry & Steven C. LeClerq & William Checkley & Joanne Katz & Patrick N. Breysse & James M. Tielsch, 2015. "Indoor Particulate Matter Concentration, Water Boiling Time, and Fuel Use of Selected Alternative Cookstoves in a Home-Like Setting in Rural Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-24, July.
    2. Sandra E. Zaeh & Kirsten Koehler & Michelle N. Eakin & Christopher Wohn & Ike Diibor & Thomas Eckmann & Tianshi David Wu & Dorothy Clemons-Erby & Christine E. Gummerson & Timothy Green & Megan Wood & , 2021. "Indoor Air Quality Prior to and Following School Building Renovation in a Mid-Atlantic School District," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-14, November.
    3. Darrell B. Sonntag & Hanyong Jung & Royce P. Harline & Tyler C. Peterson & Selah E. Willis & Taylor R. Christensen & James D. Johnston, 2023. "Infiltration of Outdoor PM 2.5 Pollution into Homes with Evaporative Coolers in Utah County," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, December.

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