The Effects of Ultrafine Particles from Traffic Emissions on Children’s Health (UPTECH): preliminary results from three Italian schools

Because of the limited epidemiological data on the effects of ultrafine particles (UFPs, diameter < 100 nm) on human health, particularly children, the international research project UPTECH started with the aim to investigate exposure-health outcome relationship among children aged 8-11 years, targeting long-term rather than short-term health effects. Three schools were investigated with the following criteria: classrooms are naturally ventilated, not major local air pollution sources (other than road traffic) and not in the vicinity of any major infrastructure project. Particle size distribution and total concentration measurements were conducted at three scales: broad scale, school-based scale and classroom scale (1-2 weeks of continuous measurements), through several Condensation Particle Counters, Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer spectrometers, Aerodynamics Particle Sizers, Fast Mobility Particle Sizer spectrometers and Nanoparticle Surface Area Monitors. Aerosol volatility and BC content were measured, as well as elemental composition, VOC, PAH, aldehydes, and NOx, CO (from EPA fixed monitoring station) and CO2 in the classrooms. Furthermore, personal exposure monitoring of 3 to 9 children of each school was continuously carried out for a 24 h period. Questionnaires are used to describe the study population, to measure respiratory symptoms, potential confounders and effect modifiers relevant to the analysis. The key parameters hypothesized to be related to spatial variation in UFP pollution include respiratory symptoms, lung function, airway and systemic inflammation, atopic status. To this purpose, prick tests, spirometries and eNO measurements were conducted for a total of about 100 children. This paper presents the preliminary results referred to the Italian case.