Particulate matter concentrations in UK schools: a nationwide study into the influence of ambient PM₂.₅ and the resulting exposure potentials
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Handy, Alice
Wood, Samuel
Roberts, Katherine
Malley, Christopher S
Burridge, Henry C
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This paper analyses the concentration of particulate matter PM2.5 from monitors deployed, by the Schools' Air Quality Monitoring for Health and Education Initiative (SAMHE), to 490 schools across the United Kingdom throughout the academic year 2023–2024. The data shows that the PM2.5 concentration in schools is closely correlated to the ambient outdoor PM2.5 concentrations. Whilst the evidence gathered indicates that sources of PM2.5 within schools contribute to the concentrations, it is shown that outdoor sources are the dominant signature within the PM2.5 concentration measurements made indoors. Moreover, over the academic year, outdoor PM2.5 events — periods of elevated outdoor PM2.5 concentration — are shown to account for approximately 41% of the total potential exposure, whilst occurring on only around 13% of schooldays. These, and other findings presented herein, have important implications for school air quality and how air quality within schools, and beyond, is managed.
Date Issued
2025-03-20
Date Acceptance
2025-02-14
Citation
Science of the Total Environment, 2025, 970
ISSN
0048-9697
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Science of the Total Environment
Volume
970
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2025 Published by Elsevier B.V. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
178875
Date Publish Online
2025-03-06