Variability in mobility-based air pollution exposure assessment: Effects of GPS tracking duration and temporal resolution of air pollution maps

Mobility-based exposure assessment of air pollution has been proposed as a potentially more valid approach than home-based assessments. However, methodological uncertainties in operationalizing mobility-based assessment may still increase inaccuracies in estimating exposures. It remains unclear whet...

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Main Authors: Lai Wei, Marco Helbich, Benjamin Flückiger, Youchen Shen, Jelle Vlaanderen, Ayoung Jeong, Nicole Probst-Hensch, Kees de Hoogh, Gerard Hoek, Roel Vermeulen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Environment International
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025002053
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author Lai Wei
Marco Helbich
Benjamin Flückiger
Youchen Shen
Jelle Vlaanderen
Ayoung Jeong
Nicole Probst-Hensch
Kees de Hoogh
Gerard Hoek
Roel Vermeulen
author_facet Lai Wei
Marco Helbich
Benjamin Flückiger
Youchen Shen
Jelle Vlaanderen
Ayoung Jeong
Nicole Probst-Hensch
Kees de Hoogh
Gerard Hoek
Roel Vermeulen
author_sort Lai Wei
collection DOAJ
description Mobility-based exposure assessment of air pollution has been proposed as a potentially more valid approach than home-based assessments. However, methodological uncertainties in operationalizing mobility-based assessment may still increase inaccuracies in estimating exposures. It remains unclear whether using short-term mobility data and yearly average air pollution concentrations is reliable for estimating personal air pollution exposure. This study aimed to assess variability in exposure estimates modeled by short- and long-term global positioning system (GPS) data and air pollution maps with yearly and monthly temporal resolutions. We tracked 428 participants for a short period (14 days) with a GPS device and for a long period (several months) with a smartphone application. Exposure estimates of nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) were computed based on GPS data, air pollution maps, and temporal and indoor/outdoor adjustments. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) indicated excellent agreement (0.85–0.99) between exposure estimates based on short- and long-term GPS data from smartphones but ranged from moderate to excellent (0.57–0.99) when comparing exposure estimates based on data from different devices. Agreement between yearly and monthly map-based estimates was poor to moderate without temporal adjustment (CCC: 0–0.63) but excellent after temporal adjustment (CCC: 0.92–1.0). The findings suggest that using short-term (i.e., 7 or 14 days) GPS data and yearly average air pollution concentrations in mobility-based assessments can well represent long-term mobility and yearly averages for determining long-term exposures. However, GPS data collected via dedicated devices and smartphones may identify distinct indoor/outdoor patterns, affecting the indoor/outdoor adjustments of exposure estimates. Additionally, careful selection of using yearly or monthly maps is advised for assessing exposures within specific short periods.
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spelling doaj-art-cfee6b482b214ddf912b758d7c52be472025-08-20T02:24:58ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202025-04-0119810945410.1016/j.envint.2025.109454Variability in mobility-based air pollution exposure assessment: Effects of GPS tracking duration and temporal resolution of air pollution mapsLai Wei0Marco Helbich1Benjamin Flückiger2Youchen Shen3Jelle Vlaanderen4Ayoung Jeong5Nicole Probst-Hensch6Kees de Hoogh7Gerard Hoek8Roel Vermeulen9Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands; Corresponding author.Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University, 3584 CB Utrecht, the NetherlandsSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Postfach, 4001 Basel, SwitzerlandInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, the NetherlandsInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, the NetherlandsSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Postfach, 4001 Basel, SwitzerlandSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Postfach, 4001 Basel, SwitzerlandSwiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, CH-4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, Postfach, 4001 Basel, SwitzerlandInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, the NetherlandsInstitute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht 3508 GA Utrecht, the NetherlandsMobility-based exposure assessment of air pollution has been proposed as a potentially more valid approach than home-based assessments. However, methodological uncertainties in operationalizing mobility-based assessment may still increase inaccuracies in estimating exposures. It remains unclear whether using short-term mobility data and yearly average air pollution concentrations is reliable for estimating personal air pollution exposure. This study aimed to assess variability in exposure estimates modeled by short- and long-term global positioning system (GPS) data and air pollution maps with yearly and monthly temporal resolutions. We tracked 428 participants for a short period (14 days) with a GPS device and for a long period (several months) with a smartphone application. Exposure estimates of nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) were computed based on GPS data, air pollution maps, and temporal and indoor/outdoor adjustments. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) indicated excellent agreement (0.85–0.99) between exposure estimates based on short- and long-term GPS data from smartphones but ranged from moderate to excellent (0.57–0.99) when comparing exposure estimates based on data from different devices. Agreement between yearly and monthly map-based estimates was poor to moderate without temporal adjustment (CCC: 0–0.63) but excellent after temporal adjustment (CCC: 0.92–1.0). The findings suggest that using short-term (i.e., 7 or 14 days) GPS data and yearly average air pollution concentrations in mobility-based assessments can well represent long-term mobility and yearly averages for determining long-term exposures. However, GPS data collected via dedicated devices and smartphones may identify distinct indoor/outdoor patterns, affecting the indoor/outdoor adjustments of exposure estimates. Additionally, careful selection of using yearly or monthly maps is advised for assessing exposures within specific short periods.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025002053Air pollutionGPSPersonal exposure assessmentParticulate matterNitrogen dioxideOzone
spellingShingle Lai Wei
Marco Helbich
Benjamin Flückiger
Youchen Shen
Jelle Vlaanderen
Ayoung Jeong
Nicole Probst-Hensch
Kees de Hoogh
Gerard Hoek
Roel Vermeulen
Variability in mobility-based air pollution exposure assessment: Effects of GPS tracking duration and temporal resolution of air pollution maps
Environment International
Air pollution
GPS
Personal exposure assessment
Particulate matter
Nitrogen dioxide
Ozone
title Variability in mobility-based air pollution exposure assessment: Effects of GPS tracking duration and temporal resolution of air pollution maps
title_full Variability in mobility-based air pollution exposure assessment: Effects of GPS tracking duration and temporal resolution of air pollution maps
title_fullStr Variability in mobility-based air pollution exposure assessment: Effects of GPS tracking duration and temporal resolution of air pollution maps
title_full_unstemmed Variability in mobility-based air pollution exposure assessment: Effects of GPS tracking duration and temporal resolution of air pollution maps
title_short Variability in mobility-based air pollution exposure assessment: Effects of GPS tracking duration and temporal resolution of air pollution maps
title_sort variability in mobility based air pollution exposure assessment effects of gps tracking duration and temporal resolution of air pollution maps
topic Air pollution
GPS
Personal exposure assessment
Particulate matter
Nitrogen dioxide
Ozone
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025002053
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