title: How does exposure to nitrogen dioxide compare between on-road and off-road cycle routes?
abstract: This study demonstrates a simple method to estimate the extent to which the exposure of cyclists to NO(2) is reduced by using off-road cycle routes rather than on-road cycle routes. Diffusion tubes were used to measure monthly NO(2) concentrations on three paired sets of on- and off-road cycle journeys in and around the City of York in August and September 2008. These measurements were combined with estimates of journey times to calculate time-weighted average concentration and exposure on each route. The average concentration of NO(2) was significantly reduced by a mean of 37.5% when off-road routes were used in place of on-road routes and, despite the longer journey times for off-road routes, exposure was also significantly reduced by a mean of 25.5%. The method described in this study could be adopted more widely to provide a cost effective and simple means of assessing the benefits of alternative cycle routes that are provided by Local Authorities.
authors.affiliation: Environment Department, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK. tgb500@york.ac.uk
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bean
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carslaw
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashmore
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gillah
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parkinson
mesh_terms: D004739:England; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D011786:Quality Control; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide