Science to the rescue! (again)

Comparison of air pollution exposure for five commuting modes in Sydney - car, train, bus, bicycle and walking
Michael Chertok, Alexander Voukelatos, Vicky Sheppeard and Chris Rissel [ criss@email.cs.nsw.gov.au ]

Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2004; vol 15 pp63-7

Abstract

Issue addressed:

International studies have consistently found that exposure to air pollutants is higher inside cars than outside. However, few studies have compared personal exposure to air pollutants by travel mode focusing on usual travel patterns.

Objectives:
To compare the exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for commuters in central Sydney for five different commuting modes.

Methods:
Forty-four volunteers were recruited into one of five travel mode groups: car, train, bus, bicycle and walking. Each participant travelled for at least 30 minutes by their usual mode of travel to the area around Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, in central Sydney. Each participant wore BTEX and NO2 passive sampling apparatus during their travel to and from work for two weeks, following specific instructions to measure personal exposure.

Results:
The highest pollutant levels for all four BTEX pollutants were found for car commuters. Train commuters recorded the lowest pollutant levels for all four BTEX pollutants and NO2, and these levels were significantly lower than that for car commuters. Commuting by bus recorded the highest levels for NO2. Walking and cycling commuters had significantly lower levels of exposure to benzene compared with car commuters and significantly lower levels of NO2 than bus commuters.

Conclusions:
The results of this study are consistent with the findings of studies in other cities and found elevated levels of exposure to motor vehicle-related pollutants in roadway microenvironments. Strategies that encourage commuting by train, walking and cycling should be supported as this reduces population exposure to motor vehicle-related pollutants.

Peel

Yesterday the light was beautiful all day and the vivid colours of nature since the rain caught my eye, so today I took my camera with me and it was overcast. Asi es la vida. The week has been good so far, with my sleeping patterns gradually improving, my cough nearly all cleared up and nothing particularly demanding on the shedule. Of course it helps that my supervisor has been out of the office - he very subtly gives me the creeps and it's nice not to have him there beside me each day :-)

Summer has arrived with the temperatures settling in the low 30s with the nights warm and still. Insects abound and the birds follow greedily. The crows are still here with their ungainly nest, though no evidence of chicks. Taking things easy for a little while, getting my health back on track and getting to grips with work and all the incorporated bullshit. It's pleasant, to be honest, to relax for a while. Mentally I'm peeling back the layers and inspecting what's inside while I'm wearing my rational head. So long as we keep Spare Head #2 out of it, things should be fine ;-)