Personal PM2.5 Exposure and Associated Factors Among Adults with Allergic Diseases in an Urban Environment: A Panel Study

This study analyzed the factors influencing personal PM_2.5 exposure levels among adults with allergic diseases in Seoul using a linear mixed-effects (LMEs) model. The average personal PM_2.5 exposure concentration of the study participants was 17.38 μg/m³, exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) daily recommended guideline (15.00 μg/m³), though it was relatively low compared to global levels. Inter-individual exposure variability was approximately 43.5%, with exposure levels varying significantly depending on microenvironments. Notably, 58% of participants exhibited higher exposure on weekends compared to weekdays, likely associated with increased outdoor activities. The LMEs model results identified smoking (90.81% higher in smokers), temperature, relative humidity, outdoor pollutants (PM_2.5, O₃, CO), indoor PM_2.5 and CO concentrations, and time spent in residential environments as factors increasing exposure, while rainfall (91.23% reduction), wind speed, and air purifier use were identified as factors reducing exposure. These findings suggest that individual activity patterns and environmental factors significantly influence exposure levels, highlighting the need for personalized mitigation strategies and national fine dust policies. This study is expected to provide scientific evidence contributing to the reduction in health risks and improvement of quality of life for individuals with allergic diseases.