Particulate Matter Exposure in a Police Station Located near a Highway.

Yu-Cheng Chen,Chin-Kai Hsu,Chia Wang,Perng-Jy Tsai,Chun-Yuan Wang,Ming-Yeng Lin,Mei-Ru Chen

doi:10.3390/ijerph121114541

Abstract

People living or working near roadways have experienced an increase in cardiovascular or respiratory diseases due to vehicle emissions. Very few studies have focused on the PM exposure of highway police officers, particularly for the number concentration and size distribution of ultrafine particles (UFP). This study evaluated exposure concentrations of particulate matter (PM) in the Sinying police station near a highway located in Tainan, Taiwan, under different traffic volumes, traffic types, and shift times. We focused on periods when the wind blew from the highway toward the police station and when the wind speed was greater than or equal to 0.5 m/s. PM2.5, UFP, and PM-PAHs concentrations in the police station and an upwind reference station were measured. Results indicate that PM2.5, UFP, and PM-PAHs concentrations in the police station can be on average 1.13, 2.17, and 5.81 times more than the upwind reference station concentrations, respectively. The highest exposure level for PM2.5 and UFP was observed during the 12:00 PM–4:00 PM shift while the highest PAHs concentration was found in the 4:00 AM–8:00 AM shift. Thus, special attention needs to be given to protect police officers from exposure to high PM concentration.

Highlights

Particulate matter exposure can result in adverse health effects such as cardiopulmonary diseases [1,2].Among them, PM2.5, ultrafine particles (UFP, aerodynamic diameter≤100 nm), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have recently drawn significant attention due to their increasingly known adverse effects in in human health
PM2.5 mass, UFP number, and particulate matter (PM)-PAHs concentrations obtained from the police station can on average be 1.13, 2.17, and 5.81 times higher than the upwind reference station, respectively
UFP concentrations increase during traffic rush hours when the wind blows from the highway

Summary

Introduction

Particulate matter exposure can result in adverse health effects such as cardiopulmonary diseases [1,2].Among them, PM2.5 (aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm), ultrafine particles (UFP, aerodynamic diameter≤100 nm), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have recently drawn significant attention due to their increasingly known adverse effects in in human health. Particulate matter exposure can result in adverse health effects such as cardiopulmonary diseases [1,2]. PM2.5 (aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm), ultrafine particles ≤100 nm), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have recently drawn significant attention due to their increasingly known adverse effects in in human health. PAHs exposure can result in DNA damage [9,10] and even lead to lung cancer [11]. High molecular weight PAHs (PM-PAHs, PAHs with three rings or greater, which are predominately adsorbed on particles) are primarily in the PM2.5 category, with many having been identified as mutagens and carcinogens [12,13]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion