Abstract
Many people spend lengthy periods each day in enclosed vehicles in Hong Kong. However, comparably limited data is available about in-cabin air quality in air-conditioned private vehicles, and the car usage that may affect the air quality. Fifty-one vehicles were tested for particulate matter (PM0.3 and PM2.5), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), airborne bacteria, and fungi levels during their routine travel journey. Ten of these vehicles were further examined for PM0.3, PM2.5, TVOCs, CO, and CO2 during engine idling. In general, during driving PM2.5 levels in-cabin reduced overtime, but not PM0.3. For TVOCs, 24% vehicles exceeded the recommended Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) level in offices and public places set by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department. The total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) concentration positively correlated with the age of the vehicle. Carbon monoxide (CO) levels in all of the vehicles were lower than the IAQ recommendation, while 96% vehicles exceeded the recommended CO2 level of 1000 ppmv; 16% vehicles >5000 ppmv. Microbial counts were relatively low. TVOCs levels at idle engine were higher than that during driving. Although the time we spend in vehicles is short, the potential exposure to high levels of pollutants should not be overlooked.
Highlights
With people in modern societies spending as much as 70% of their time indoors, it is not surprising that factors contributing to poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) are receiving significant attention from researchers, government officials, and the general public
Studies have reported a higher level of exposure to particulate matter (PM) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) inside the vehicle cabin as compared to the ambient environment, because the outside air pollutants can accumulate in the car cabin when the windows are open [2,3,4,5,6,7]
Since TVOCs were measured in this study, we asked the respondents whether any suspected agents that could contribute to in-cabin TVOCs were present in the vehicle, and if so, these items were removed during the test
Summary
With people in modern societies spending as much as 70% of their time indoors, it is not surprising that factors contributing to poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) are receiving significant attention from researchers, government officials, and the general public. Despite the fact that many people spend upwards of an hour each day inside enclosed vehicles in industrialized countries, such as the United States or those in the European Union [1], and progressively more car-use air-cleaning devices are produced and sold, comparably limited data is available about in-cabin air quality, as opposed to that in offices and other indoor places. Studies have reported a higher level of exposure to particulate matter (PM) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) inside the vehicle cabin as compared to the ambient environment, because the outside air pollutants can accumulate in the car cabin when the windows are open [2,3,4,5,6,7]. E.g., benzene, toluene and formaldehyde, and other toxic gases
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