Personal exposure monitoring of PM_2.5 among US diplomats in Kathmandu during the COVID-19 lockdown, March to June 2020.

ABSTRACT: The 2019 Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV 2 (COVID-19¹) pandemic has severely impacted global health, safety, economic development and diplomacy. The government of Nepal issued a lockdown order in the Kathmandu Valley for 80 days from 24 March to 11 June 2020. This paper reports associated changes in ambient PM_2.5 measured at fixed-site monitors and changes in personal exposure to PM_2.5 monitored by APT Minima by four American diplomats who completed monitoring before and during lockdown (24 h for each period per person, 192 person-hours in total). Time activities and use of home air pollution mitigation measures (use of room air cleaners (RACs), sealing of homes) were recorded by standardized diary. We compared PM_2.5 exposure level by microenvironment

SUBMITTER: Edwards L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7980227 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature