Pesticide exposure of two age groups of women and its relationship with their diet

The widespread presence of organochlorine (OC) pesticides in human samples may be explained by the environmental exposure of the population. Foods are considered a constant source of exposure, despite compliance with maximum permitted residue levels. This study aimed to examine the relationship between nutritional habits of women in Southeast Spain and their serum concentrations of OCs. A semi-quantitative questionnaire was used to estimate the frequency of consumption of foods by two age groups of women, pre-menopausal (Pre-M) and post-menopausal (Post-M), and their serum pesticide levels were measured by gas chromatography (GC) with electron capture detector and confirmed by GC and mass spectrometry. The Pre-M group showed significantly higher serum concentrations of all OCs studied with the exception of DDE. The groups significantly differed in consumption of all food groups with the exception of fruit. In the Pre-M group, the mean serum p,p-DDT concentration was significantly associated with milk/yoghurt (p<0.045) and red meat (p<0.023), serum o,p-DDT with red meat (p<0.049), serum aldrin with eggs (p<0.038) and poultry (p<0.024), and serum DDE with eggs (p<0.025). In the Post-M group, serum lindane was associated with fresh and cured cheese (p<0.001), red meat (p<0.001) and white and oily fish (p<0.001), and both serum DDE and dieldrin were associated with fresh cheese, cured cheese, red meat, and white and oily fish (p<0.001). These results confirm foods as a source of human exposure to persistent organic molecules. Consideration should be given to the reduction of permitted residue levels to minimize this threat to human and animal health.     

Low-level cadmium exposure in Toyama City and its surroundings in Toyama prefecture, Japan, with references to possible contribution of shellfish intake to increase urinary cadmium levels

OBJECTIVES: This study was initiated to examine if exposure to cadmium (Cd) was high also outside of the previously identified Itai-itai disease endemic region in the Jinzu River basin in Toyama prefecture in Japan. METHODS: Morning spot urine samples were collected in June-August 2004 from 651 adult women (including 535 never-smokers) in various regions in Toyama prefecture, and subjected to urinalyses for cadmium (Cd), alpha1-microglobulin (alpha1-MG), beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), specific gravity (SG or sg) and creatinine (CR or cr). Three months later, the second urine samples were collected from those with elevated Cd in urine (e.g., > or =4 microg/g cr), together with answers to questionnaires on shellfish consumption. RESULTS: The geometric mean (GM) Cd, alpha1-MG, beta2-MG and NAG (after correction for CR) for the total participants were 2.0 microg/g cr, 2.4 mg/g cr, 104 microg/g cr and 2.8 units/g cr, respectively; further analysis with never-smoking cases only did not induce significant changes in these parameters. Analyses of the second urine samples from the high Cd subjects showed that there was substantial decrease (to about a half) in Cd in the 3-month period, and that the decrease was accompanied by reduction in alpha1-MG and NAG (beta2-MG did not show elevation even in the first samples). The urinalysis results in combination with the results of the questionnaire survey suggest that the high urinary Cd was temporary and might be induced by intake of shellfish that is edible whole. CONCLUSIONS: The overall findings appear to suggest that Cd exposure in Toyama populations (outside of the Itai-itai disease endemic region) was at the levels commonly observed on the coast of the Sea of Japan, and that the Cd level in urine might be modified by the intake of some types of seafood. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the relation of urinary Cd with seafood intake.     

建筑施工场地环境污染及防治对策

阐述了建筑施工对周围环境造成的污染，并针对目前建筑施工管理混乱的状况，提出了防治污染的对应措施，指出只有认真执行，才能有效遏制建筑施工场地的环境污染。     

Environmental exposure to lead and its correlation with biochemical indices in children

Lead is a global concern because of its ubiquity in the environment and known to be associated with abnormal neurobehavioral and cognitive development of young children. There is no study from India to describe a composite profile of blood lead and its biochemical influences in children. The present study was aimed at determining the proportion of children with >10 mug/dL blood lead levels (BLLs), association between BLLs, and sociodemographic characteristics, if any, and alterations in biochemical indices in the blood as an underlying mechanism of lead intoxication. A total of 62 children (4--12 y) of Lucknow and nearby areas were recruited to determine BLLs, delta-amimolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta-ALAD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels in the blood. Mean level of blood lead was 7.47+/-3.06 microg/dL (2.78--15.0) and 29%-exceeded 10 microg/dL, CDC intervention level. The BLLs were found to be significantly influenced by social status, area of residence, source of water supply, maternal educational status (p<0.001), type of house, and proximity to traffic density (p<0.01). delta-ALAD was significantly lower in the group of children with BLLs 11.39+/-1.39 microg/dL when compared to children with BLLs 7.11+/-1.25 microg/dL and 3.93+/-0.61 microg/dL (p=0.0007, 0.0005, respectively). However, CAT activity was higher in the groups of children with higher blood levels than with lower BLLs (p=0.0159, 0.0001, respectively). There was an increase in MDA level with a concomitant decrease of GSH in children with BLLs 11.39+/-1.39 microg/dL compared with those of children with BLLs 7.11+/-1.25 microg/dL and 3.93+/-0.61 microg/dL (p=0.0001, 0.0002, and p=0.0001, respectively). There was statistically significant correlation of BLLs with delta-ALAD (r=-0.44, p=0.00035), MDA (r=0.46, p=0.00018), GSH (r=-0.62, p=0.00001), and CAT (r=0.44, p=0.00035). Significantly, CAT activity, MDA, and GSH levels were in turn, found to be correlated with delta-ALAD (r=-0.45, p=0.00024; r=-0.43, p=0.00053; r=0.43, p=0.00053, respectively). Results of the present study indicate a declining trend of BLLs in children when compared with those reported from metropolitan cities of India when leaded gasoline was in practice and that the BLLs were significantly associated with biochemical indices in the blood which have the potential to be used as biomarkers of lead intoxication.     

Assessment and management of risks arising from exposure to cadmium in fertilisers. I

A risk assessment protocol has been developed for use by individual EU Member States with appropriate selection of input data, to assess the risks to humans and the environment arising from exposure to cadmium in fertilisers. The protocol comprises of three modules: (1) the accumulation module, in which the net accumulation of cadmium in soil and soil solution, resulting from the application of fertiliser, is computed over time. The accumulation module allows for a range of inputs from different sources (atmospheric deposition, sludge addition, manure and fertiliser application) as well as for average and extreme rates of fertiliser application. A critical parameter is the solid/liquid partition coefficient, which in turn is a function of soil properties such as pH and is highly variable depending on the algorithm selected as being representative of national conditions. (2) The exposure module, in which the uptake of cadmium from soil into plants and the subsequent intake of cadmium by humans is computed, using exposure parameters characterising both average and extreme exposure scenarios. The protocol focuses on food types known to be sensitive to cadmium uptake (grain, cereals, potatoes, root vegetables and leafy vegetables). Environmental exposure is also characterised. (3) The risk characterisation module, in which Member States may estimate the incidence and severity of the adverse effects likely to occur due to actual or predicted exposure to cadmium. This is undertaken by modelling the Predicted Environmental Concentrations (PECs) in humans and the environment using the accumulation and exposure modules, and then comparing these values against the relevant Predicted No Effect Concentrations (PNECs). A range of environmental PNEC values are reported in the literature; the European Commission recommends that normally the lowest No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) should be used in the risk characterisation. For humans, the current WHO Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) is equivalent to a daily intake of 70 microg Cd day(-1). Particular risk groups can be characterised, namely of: children; smokers; women with low iron stores; consumers of food items with high cadmium content; and extreme consumers of staple food items. At present, with the data available, it is not possible to characterise risk groups in detail, either at EU level or at Member State level. However, most Member States appear to have an average intake of cadmium which is lower than the WHO's PTWI.     

Secondary exposure to dioxins through exposure to PCP and its derivatives.

This study discusses the potential exposure of occupational workers and general consumers in the European Union (EU) to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) caused by exposure to pentachlorophenol (PCP) and its derivatives. A synthesis of reported exposure data relating exposure to PCP and its derivatives in an occupational setting has indicated that the PCDD/F intake for exposure in the 1990s averaged over a lifetime is likely to be in the order of 0.02-1 pg I-TEQ kg-1 bw day-1 with actual exposures more likely to occur at the lower end of the range, around the median of 0.16 pg I-TEQ kg-1 bw day-1. Workers who have experienced past exposure to PCP and its derivatives especially in the early to mid 1980s, will have been subjected to higher exposures to PCDD/Fs due to the generally higher concentrations of PCDD/Fs in PCP products at that time. Exposure to PCP and its derivatives via the food chain is judged to be the most significant intake route of PCDD/Fs into consumers. The ingestion of milk and dairy products obtained from cows grazed on pasture dressed with sewage sludge has the potential to raise the average daily intake of PCDD/Fs via the diet by about 40% if all foods consumed derived from sludge amended soil. To the extent quantifiable, exposure to PCP in an occupational setting contributed approximately 16% as a median to the overall background exposure to PCDD/Fs, while for consumers this contribution ranged from 2 to 60% depending on the exposure to sludge amended foods.     

Differences in cyclists and car drivers exposure to air pollution from traffic in the city of Copenhagen.

It has frequently been claimed that cycling in heavy traffic is unhealthy, more so than driving a car. To test this hypothesis, teams of two cyclists and two car drivers in two cars were equipped with personal air samplers while driving for 4 h on 2 different days in the morning traffic of Copenhagen. The air sample charcoal tubes were analysed for their benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) content and the air filters for particles (total dust). The concentrations of particles and BTEX in the cabin of the cars were 2-4 times greater than in the cyclists' breathing zone, the greatest difference being for BTEX. Therefore, even after taking the increased respiration rate of cyclists into consideration, car drivers seem to be more exposed to airborne pollution than cyclists.     

Assessment and management of risks arising from exposure to cadmium in fertilisers--II

A preliminary, illustrative human health risk assessment of exposure to cadmium in phosphate fertilisers was performed using typical UK data and a protocol previously developed for application by individual Member States in the European Union. The risk assessment indicated that the for the most pessimistic population exposures characterised by both extreme (97th percentile) cereal and potato consumption and high susceptibility to cadmium uptake, the estimated dose was under the WHO Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) for fertiliser cadmium concentrations ranging from 15 to 100 mg Cd/kg P2O5 applied over 100 years. However, the low margin of safety for high risk groups and the uncertainties inherent in the overall risk assessment suggested that a prudent risk management strategy would involve maintenance of low levels of cadmium in fertilisers and/or conditions that permitted low accumulation of cadmium in soils. On this basis, two main risk reduction measures were developed and assessed: (a) imposition of limits on cadmium concentration in fertilisers; and (b) imposition of charges on levels of cadmium in phosphate fertilisers. An assessment of the economic impact of these risk reduction measures indicated that, at all price elasticities, the most significant impact in terms of changes in demand and changes in consumer expenditure on phosphate fertilisers will be seen with cadmium charges where no thresholds are defined. The impact on the consumer (i.e. farmer) will be an increase in spending of approximately US $4000 per year, which is considered significant, accompanied by a decrease in demand above 20%. If a threshold is set at 60 mg Cd/kg P2O5, the impact is significantly reduced, but stays relatively high compared to the other options. The analysis also indicates that the use of low-cadmium rock is the low cost option. At a likely rock price increase of approximately 5% and assuming a likely price elasticity of -0.2, the yearly costs to farmers will be approximately US $82 which is considered a minimal impact. In the worst case scenario (elasticity of -0.6 and a 10% increase in rock prices), the increase in spending by farmers will be of 3.9% or US $221 which is also considered to represent a minimal impact. At similar price elasticities, the use of decadmation technologies is predicted to be more costly than the use of low-cadmium rock but this option can still be considered as having a minimal impact on the consumer (increase in expenditure of 1.9-13.3% or US $106-748).     

Urban population exposure to lead and cadmium in east and south-east Asia

Information is still scarce for many Asian countries on general population exposure to two potentially toxic heavy metals of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). The present review on publications from this study group is intended to provide an overview of the non-occupational exposure to Pb and Cd among general populations in east and south-east Asia. During the period of 1991-1998, surveys were conducted in four cities in south-east Asia, five cities in mainland China, and two cities each in Japan and Korea. Peripheral blood, morning spot urine and 24-h food duplicate samples were collected from 20-50 non-smoking adult women in each survey site. The samples were digested by heating in the presence of mineral acids, and then analyzed by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the metals in blood (Pb-B and Cd-B), in urine (Pb-U and Cd-U), and in food duplicate (Pb-F and Cd-F). Measures were subjected to statistical analysis with an assumption of log-normal distribution. Pb-B, Pb-U and Pb-F levels varied substantially among the 11 urban sites; GM distributed in ranges of 32-65 microg/l for Pb-B, 2.1-7.5 microg/g cr (creatinine) for Pb-U, and 7-32 microg/day for Pb-F. The same was also the case for Cd exposure parameters, the distribution ranges being 0.5-1.8 microg/l for Cd-B, 1.2-3.1 microg/g cr for Cd-U, and 5-32 microg/day for Cd-F. It appeared that the exposure to Pb and Cd was highest in Kuala Lumpur, and Tokyo + Kyoto, respectively, and lowest in Tokyo + Kyoto and in Manila. Additional surveys in Japan showed that Pb exposure was even lower in rural areas than in Tokyo + Kyoto. When compared with the values reported in the literature, Pb exposure levels among Asian populations appear to be similar to the levels in Europe and in the United States, whereas Cd exposure seems to be higher in Asia than in Europe. The contribution of the dietary route in Pb absorption was variable and was inversely related to the extent of air pollution, whereas Cd uptake was almost exclusively via the dietary route with little contribution of the respiratory route.     

Long-term exposure to indoor air pollution and risk of tuberculosis

Indoor air pollution (IAP) is a recognized risk factor for various diseases. This paper examines the role of indoor solid fuel exposure in the risk of mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) in Delhi Metropolitan, India. Using a cross-sectional design, subjects were screened for a history of active TB and lifelong exposure to IAP sources, such as solid fuel burning and kerosene. The TB prevalence rate in the study area was 1117 per 100 000 population. Every year, increase in solid fuel exposure was associated with a three percent higher likelihood of a history of active TB. Subjects exposed to solid fuel and kerosene use for both heating home and cooking showed significant associations with TB. Age, household expenditure (a proxy of income), lung function, and smoking also showed significant associations with TB. Smokers and solid fuel–exposed subjects were four times more likely to have a history of active TB than non-smoker and unexposed subjects. These finding calls strategies to mitigate solid fuel exposure, such as use of clean cookstove and ventilation, to mitigate the risk of TB which aligns with the United Nations’ goal of “End TB by 2030.”     

贸易及其他因素对开罗城市发展的影响探究

文章以开罗不同的统治时期为线索,通过比较地图、参阅文献等方法,分别探究不同背景下各个因素对于开罗城市形态的影响.以古代贸易的影响为主,旨在探究现代全球化贸易对于发展中国家城市的影响,为其他参与到全球化贸易中的发展中国家提供经验、带来启发.     

Early age exposure to moisture damage and systemic inflammation at the age of 6 years

Cross‐sectional studies have shown that exposure to indoor moisture damage and mold may be associated with subclinical inflammation. Our aim was to determine whether early age exposure to moisture damage or mold is prospectively associated with subclinical systemic inflammation or with immune responsiveness in later childhood. Home inspections were performed in children's homes in the first year of life. At age 6 years, subclinical systemic inflammation was measured by serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) and blood leukocytes and immune responsiveness by ex vivo production of interleukin 1‐beta (IL‐1β), IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) in whole blood cultures without stimulation or after 24 hours stimulation with phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate and ionomycin (PI), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or peptidoglycan (PPG) in 251‐270 children. Moisture damage in child's main living areas in infancy was not significantly associated with elevated levels of CRP or leukocytes at 6 years. In contrast, there was some suggestion for an effect on immune responsiveness, as moisture damage with visible mold was positively associated with LPS‐stimulated production of TNF‐α and minor moisture damage was inversely associated with PI‐stimulated IL‐1β. While early life exposure to mold damage may have some influence on later immune responsiveness, it does not seem to increase subclinical systemic inflammation in later life.     

Background lead and cadmium exposure of adult women in Xian City and two farming villages in Shaanxi Province, China

The objectives of the present study are: (a) to clarify the current levels of environmental exposure to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in Shaanxi Province in China in comparison with levels in other parts of mainland China; (b) to examine if there is any urban-rural difference in Pb and Cd exposure; and (c) to quantify the role of cereals as the dietary source of environmental exposure to these metals. For this purpose, triplet surveys on lead and cadmium exposure were conducted in the provincial capital of Xian and two farming villages A and B in Shaanxi Province, China in 1997. The grand geometric mean for lead (Pb) intake via foods (Pb-F), Pb in blood (Pb-B) and Pb in urine as corrected for creatinine concentration (Pb-Ucr) were 30 micrograms/day, 33 micrograms/l and 5 micrograms/g creatinine, respectively, with significant differences among the survey sites, e.g. Pb-B being higher in Xian (43 micrograms/l) than in the two villages (38 and 22 micrograms/l). The counterpart values for cadmium (Cd) intake via foods (Cd-F), Cd in blood (Cd-B) and Cd in urine (Cd-Ucr) were 6.1 micrograms/day, 0.46 microgram/l and 2.8 micrograms/g creatinine, respectively, with no substantial inter-survey site difference. Thus, it was possible to conclude that, from comparison with the values reported in 1990s literature, the exposure of Shaanxi people to Pb and Cd is no higher than, and even possibly lower than, the levels reported for people in other parts of mainland China. The exposure to Cd was almost exclusively from foods, whereas the exposure to air-borne Pb was large enough in Xian to explain higher Pb-B and Pb-Ucr than the level in Village B despite lower Pb-F in Xian than in Village B. Cereals (wheat, rice, maize and foxtail millet) contributed 26 and 84% of dietary Pb and Cd intake, respectively.     

Myriophyllum alterniflorum DC., biomonitor of metal pollution and water quality. Sorption/accumulation capacities and photosynthetic pigments composition changes after copper and cadmium exposure

Watermilfoil genus Myriophyllum could be used in ecological surveys as in-situ biomonitors of metal pollution and water quality due to its ability to accumulate chemicals. The copper and cadmium sorption characteristics of Myriophyllum alterniflorum have been investigated. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to model the metal sorption isotherms and the monolayer sorption capacities, as obtained by the Langmuir isotherm, were determined to be 13.9 mg/g and 11.1 mg/g for Cu2+ and Cd2+ respectively. Results have been compared with previous works on watermilfoils and are in accordance with those obtained on Myriophyllum spicatum. The sorption of the two metals was time-dependent and the kinetics fitted the pseudo-second-order equation well. The data were discussed in terms of ionic radii and HSAB concept. The phytotoxic effects assessed by classical (i.e. changes in biomass, node length) and photosynthetic pigments content endpoints have been investigated using chemometric techniques leading to an effect of cadmium onto photosynthetic pigments.     

城郊旅游可持续发展及其模式初探

城市郊区以其独有的地域特征和良好的生态环境而成为旅游开发的理想之地,近年来引起了人们的广泛关注并得到了蓬勃的发展,然而在现实的资源开发过程中,却存在着不少问题。 一、影响城郊旅游可持续发展的原因 1、城市倾向化严重 随着我国城市化进程的加快,许多大城市郊区先后建立了一大批大型的人造游乐景观,使得城郊人文景观和风景游览区出现了严重的城市倾向化现象,城郊范围内许多自然和半自然的生态环境和乡村景观因此而丧失。 2、人文景观建造过多 众多城市郊区在旅游产品开发中“重人造,轻自然”,一些投资者在题材选择上陷入…     

Comparison of next-generation portable pollution monitors to measure exposure to PM2.5 from household air pollution in Puno,Peru

Assessment of personal exposure to PM_2.5 is critical for understanding intervention effectiveness and exposure-response relationships in household air pollution studies. In this pilot study, we compared PM_2.5 concentrations obtained from two next-generation personal exposure monitors (the Enhanced Children MicroPEM or ECM; and the Ultrasonic Personal Air Sampler or UPAS) to those obtained with a traditional Triplex Cyclone and SKC Air Pump (a gravimetric cyclone/pump sampler). We co-located cyclone/pumps with an ECM and UPAS to obtain 24-hour kitchen concentrations and personal exposure measurements. We measured Spearmen correlations and evaluated agreement using the Bland-Altman method. We obtained 215 filters from 72 ECM and 71 UPAS co-locations. Overall, the ECM and the UPAS had similar correlation (ECM ρ = 0.91 vs UPAS ρ = 0.88) and agreement (ECM mean difference of 121.7 µg/m³ vs UPAS mean difference of 93.9 µg/m³) with overlapping confidence intervals when compared against the cyclone/pump. When adjusted for the limit of detection, agreement between the devices and the cyclone/pump was also similar for all samples (ECM mean difference of 68.8 µg/m³ vs UPAS mean difference of 65.4 µg/m³) and personal exposure samples (ECM mean difference of −3.8 µg/m³ vs UPAS mean difference of −12.9 µg/m³). Both the ECM and UPAS produced comparable measurements when compared against a cyclone/pump setup.     

Dose-response functions for the soiling of heritage materials due to air pollution exposure

A set of materials (Portland limestone, white painted steel, white plastic and polycarbonate filter material) was exposed at locations in London, Athens and Krakow. Regular measurements of reflectance were taken over a period of twelve months. Co-located measurements of PM₁₀ concentrations were available. Based on these results, the relationship between soiling (measured as loss of reflectance) and ambient PM₁₀ concentrations was quantified leading to the development of dose–response functions for the soiling of materials. The results for limestone revealed too much scatter for a prediction to be made. Implications for air quality management and for the conservation of cultural heritage buildings are considered, including public acceptability and economic factors.     

On the use of a field exposure system to estimate air pollution levels

The paper describes a field exposure system involving the application of growing chambers, ventilated with filtered or nonfiltered ambient air. The diffusive resistance of primary leaves of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), growing in medium with ammonium or nitrate as nitrogen source, has been used as indicator for low level air pollution, which does not produce visible leaf injury. In severely polluted atmosphere an addition of sodium chloride affected inversely the degree of injury.     

环保部：抓住重大机遇 推进水污染治理

以改善水环境,保障水安全为主题的“第四届中国城镇水务发展国际研讨会”日前在北京开幕。环境保护部副部长吴晓青出席会议并致辞。     

Measuring the exposure of infants and children to indoor air pollution from biomass fuels in The Gambia

Indoor air pollution (IAP) from biomass fuels contains high concentrations of health damaging pollutants and is associated with an increased risk of childhood pneumonia. We aimed to design an exposure measurement component for a matched case-control study of IAP as a risk factor for pneumonia and severe pneumonia in infants and children in The Gambia. We conducted co-located simultaneous area measurement of carbon monoxide (CO) and particles with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 microm (PM(2.5)) in 13 households for 48 h each. CO was measured using a passive integrated monitor and PM(2.5) using a continuous monitor. In three of the 13 households, we also measured continuous PM(2.5) concentration for 2 weeks in the cooking, sleeping, and playing areas. We used gravimetric PM(2.5) samples as the reference to correct the continuous PM(2.5) for instrument measurement error. Forty-eight hour CO and PM(2.5) concentrations in the cooking area had a correlation coefficient of 0.80. Average 48-h CO and PM(2.5) concentrations in the cooking area were 3.8 +/- 3.9 ppm and 361 +/- 312 microg/m3, respectively. The average 48-h CO exposure was 1.5 +/- 1.6 ppm for children and 2.4 +/- 1.9 ppm for mothers. PM(2.5) exposure was an estimated 219 microg/m3 for children and 275 microg/m3 for their mothers. The continuous PM(2.5) concentration had peaks in all households representing the morning, midday, and evening cooking periods, with the largest peak corresponding to midday. The results are used to provide specific recommendations for measuring the exposure of infants and children in an epidemiological study. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Measuring personal particulate matter (PM) exposure of young children in epidemiological studies is hindered by the absence of small personal monitors. Simultaneous measurement of PM and carbon monoxide suggests that a combination of methods may be needed for measuring children's PM exposure in areas where household biomass combustion is the primary source of indoor air pollution. Children's PM exposure in biomass burning homes in The Gambia is substantially higher than concentrations in the world's most polluted cities.