title: Variations in exposure to traffic pollution while travelling by different modes in a low density, less congested city.
abstract: This research assessed the comparative risk associated with exposure to traffic pollution when travelling via different transport modes in Christchurch, New Zealand. Concentrations of PM1, UFPs and CO were monitored on pre-defined routes during the morning and evening commute on people travelling concurrently by car, bus and bicycle. It was found that car drivers were consistently exposed to the highest levels of CO; on-road cyclists were exposed to higher levels of all pollutants than off-road cyclists; car and bus occupants were exposed to higher average levels of UFP than cyclists, and travellers were occasionally exposed to very high levels of pollution for short periods of time. PM10 and PM2.5 were found to be poor indicators of exposure to traffic pollution. Studying Christchurch adds to our understanding as it was a lower density city with limited traffic congestion compared most other cities previously studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. simon.kingham@canterbury.ac.nz
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kingham
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Longley
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salmond
authors.forename: Woodrow
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pattinson
authors.forename: Kreepa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shrestha
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009520:New Zealand; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: Air pollution exposure; Carbon monoxide; Particulate matter; Transport mode; Ultrafine particles