Inhalation exposure factors of residents in a typical region in northern China.

Inhalation exposure factors are key parameters in accurately estimating human exposure dose to pollutants and health risk assessment.However,few such investigations have been conducted in China.A questionnaire survey was used to study time-activity patterns of 2860 participants from Taiyuan,a typical region in northern China.Respiration rate parameters suitable for residents of this region were calculated using a combined body energy estimation model,and compared with those both from China and international.The results showed that:the daily average indoor activity time of Taiyuan residents was 16.1-18.4 hours;there were great differences in the time engaged in various intensities of activities among different sexes,age groups,and between urban and rural residents;the long-term exposure inhalation rate parameters for Taiyuan urban residents was 10.72-14.53 m3 /day,and the rate parameters for Taiyuan residents was 15.61-22.59 m3 /day,respectively.As compared with the data from related literature in China and US EPA,the future health risk deviation will be 30%-50%.