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Review
. 2010 Mar;21(2):215-23.
doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181cb41f7.

Estimating error in using ambient PM2.5 concentrations as proxies for personal exposures: a review

Christy L Avery  1 , Katherine T Mills, Ronald Williams, Kathleen A McGraw, Charles Poole, Richard L Smith, Eric A Whitsel
Affiliations
Review

Estimating error in using ambient PM2.5 concentrations as proxies for personal exposures: a review

Christy L Avery et al. Epidemiology. 2010 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Several methods have been used to account for measurement error inherent in using ambient concentration of particulate matter < 2.5 microm/m(3) (PM(2.5)) as a proxy for personal exposure. Such methods commonly rely on the estimated correlation between ambient and personal PM(2.5) concentrations (r). However, studies of r have not been systematically and quantitatively assessed for publication bias or heterogeneity.

Methods: We searched 7 electronic reference databases for studies of the within-participant correlation between ambient and personal PM(2.5).

Results: We identified 567 candidate studies, 18 (3%) of which met inclusion criteria and were abstracted. The studies were published between 1999 and 2008, representing 619 nonsmoking participants aged 6-93 years in 17 European and North American cities. Correlation coefficients (median 0.54; range 0.09-0.83) were based on a median of 8 ambient-personal PM(2.5) pairs per participant (range 5-20) collected over 27-547 days. Overall, there was little evidence for publication bias (funnel plot symmetry tests: Begg's log-rank test, P 0.9; Egger's regression asymmetry test, P 0.2). However, strong evidence for heterogeneity was noted (Cochran's Q test for heterogeneity, P = 0.001). European locales, eastern longitudes in North America, higher ambient PM(2.5) concentrations, higher relative humidity, and lower between-participant variation in r were associated with increased r.

Conclusions: Characteristics of participants, studies, and the environments in which they are conducted may affect the accuracy of ambient PM2.5 as a proxy for personal exposure.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Twenty-seven estimates of r̄ (95% CI) from eighteen studies of the within-participant correlation between ambient and personal PM2.5. See Table 1 for descriptions of sub-studies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Funnel plot for 27 reported and four imputed estimates of the within-participant correlation between ambient and personal PM2.5.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Galbraith plot with 95% confidence intervals for 27 estimates of the within-participant correlation between ambient and personal PM2.5.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Summary correlations (95% CI) and correlation differences (95% CI) by study, participant, and environment characteristics for eighteen studies examining the within-participant correlation between ambient and personal PM2.5.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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