title: Bicycle Commuting and Exposure to Air Pollution: A Questionnaire-Based Investigation of Perceptions, Symptoms, and Risk Management Strategies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An increase in bicycle commuting participation may improve public health and traffic congestion in cities. Information on air pollution exposure (such as perception, symptoms, and risk management) contributes to the responsible promotion of bicycle commuting participation.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine perceptions, symptoms, and willingness for specific exposure risk management strategies of exposure to air pollution, a questionnaire-based cross-sectional investigation was conducted with adult bicycle commuters (n = 153; age = 41 ± 11 years; 28% female).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frequency of acute respiratory signs and symptoms were positively associated with in-commute and postcommute compared with precommute time periods (P < .05); there was greater positive association with respiratory disorder compared with healthy, and female compared with male, participants. The perception (but not signs or symptoms) of in-commute exposure to air pollution was positively associated with the estimated level of in-commute proximity to motorized traffic. The majority of participants indicated a willingness (which varied with health status and gender) to adopt risk management strategies (with desired features) if shown to be appropriate and effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While acute signs and symptoms of air pollution exposure are indicated with bicycle commuting, and more so in susceptible individuals, there is willingness to manage exposure risk by adopting effective strategies with desired features.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; the Biomedical Research Centre Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; and University Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cole-Hunter
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morawska
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants; D000397:Air Pollution; D001642:Bicycling; D002947:Cities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012308:Risk Management; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants