The Fort Collins Commuter Study: Impact of Route Type and Transport Mode on Personal Exposure to Multiple Air Pollutants

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ackerson C ; Bachand A ; Carpenter T ; Clark ML ; Fedak KM ; Good N ; Kayne A ; Koehler K ; L'Orange C ; Mölter A ; Moore B ; Peel JL ; Quinn C ; Stuart AL ; Ugave V ; Volckens J
• Description:
  Traffic-related air pollution is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, yet few studies have examined strategies to reduce individual exposure while commuting. The present study aimed to quantify how choice of mode and route type affects personal exposure to air pollutants during commuting. We analyzed within-person difference in exposures to multiple air pollutants (black carbon (BC), carbon monoxide (CO), ultrafine particle number concentration (PNC), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5)) during commutes between the home and workplace for 45 participants. Participants completed 8 days of commuting by car and bicycle on direct and alternative (reduced traffic) routes. Mean within-person exposures to BC, PM2.5, and PNC were higher when commuting by cycling than when driving, but mean CO exposure was lower when cycling. Exposures to CO and BC were reduced when commuting along alternative routes. When cumulative exposure was considered, the benefits from cycling were attenuated, in the case of CO, or exacerbated, in the case of particulate exposures, owing to the increased duration of the commute. Although choice of route can reduce mean exposure, the effect of route length and duration often offsets these reductions when cumulative exposure is considered. Furthermore, increased ventilation rate when cycling may result in a more harmful dose than inhalation at a lower ventilation rate. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollution Automobiles Carbon Monoxide Environmental Exposure Morbidity Mortality Occupational Health Particulate Matter Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety

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• Keywords:
  Air Pollution Author Keywords: Air Pollution Carbon Black Carbon Monoxide Commute Emission Sources Exposure Levels Health Effects Morbidity Rates Mortality Rates Motor Vehicles Particle Number Particulate Matter Particulates Risk Factors Traffic

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• ISSN:
  1559-0631
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Florida ; Maryland ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  397-404
• Volume:
  26
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050500
• Citation:
  J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2016 Jun; 26(4):397-404
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr. John Volckens, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1301
• Email:
  john.volckens@colostate.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon black (CAS RN 1333-86-4) ; Carbon monoxide (CAS RN 630-08-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  University of Colorado, Denver
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20070701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:52321ff97c4eba732e804da0c12311fc1ca2856bc54f31209c3da8c618e9f2738b81c2dc19d6dc44f5b233453bbdc77123e92d492ad7692ccf067543ba85833c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210819/cdc_210819_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 539.52 KB ]