Identification of High Personal PM2.5 Exposure during Real Time Commuting in the Taipei Metropolitan Area

Cheng-Yi Wang,Biing-Suan Lim,Ya-Hui Wang,Yuh-Chin Huang

doi:10.3390/atmos12030396

Cheng-Yi Wang, Biing-Suan Lim + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12030396

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Abstract

There has been an increase in the network of mass rapid transit (MRT) and the number of automobiles over the past decades in the Taipei metropolitan area, Taiwan. The effects of these changes on PM2.5 exposure for the residents using different modes of transportation are unclear. Volunteers measured PM2.5 concentrations while commuting in different modes of transportation using a portable PM2.5 detector. Exposure to PM2.5 (median (range)) was higher when walking along the streets (40 (10–275) µg/m3) compared to riding the buses (35 (13–65) µg/m3) and the cars (15 (8–80) µg/m3). PM2.5 concentrations were higher in underground MRT stations (80 (30–210) µg/m3) and inside MRT cars running in underground sections (80 (55–185) µg/m3) than those in elevated MRT stations (33 (15–35) µg/m3) and inside MRT cars running in elevated sections (28 (13–68) µg/m3) (p < 0.0001). Riding motorcycle also was associated with high PM2.5 exposure (75 (60–105 µg/m3), p < 0.0001 vs. walking). High PM2.5 concentrations were noted near the temples (588 ± 271 µg/m3) and in the underground food court of a night market (405 ± 238 µg/m3) where the eatery stalls stir-fried and grilled food (p < 0.0001 vs. walking). We conclude that residents in the Taipei metropolitan area may still be exposed to high PM2.5 during some forms of commuting, including riding underground MRT.

Highlights

Epidemiologic studies have established an association between exposures to air pollution particles from mobile and stationary sources and human mortality and morbidity at concentrations of particles currently found in major metropolitan areas [1]
The poor association was likely due to the difference in the measurement of PM2.5 reported by the monitoring station at a height of 10–15 m and those measured at the ground level
Our study showed high PM2.5 concentrations inside the underground mass rapid transit (MRT) platforms and the trains (75 μg/m3 and 80 μg/m3)

Summary

Introduction

Epidemiologic studies have established an association between exposures to air pollution particles from mobile and stationary sources and human mortality and morbidity at concentrations of particles currently found in major metropolitan areas [1]. This association has been documented in numerous investigations around the world and is remarkably consistent [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. The adverse effects of particulate matter (PM) include both pulmonary and extrapulmonary morbidity and mortality [9,10,11]. The extrapulmonary adverse effects of PM are primarily cardiac diseases [1,5,19,20] and vascular diseases (e.g., ischemic stroke) [21,22,23,24]

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