The Fort Collins Commuter Study: Impact of route type and transport mode on personal exposure to multiple air pollutants.
Traffic-related air pollution is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, yet few studies have examined strategies to reduce individual exposure while commuting. The present study aimed to quantify how choice of mode and route type affects personal exposure to air pollutants during commuting. We analyzed within-person difference in exposures to multiple air pollutants (black carbon (BC), carbon monoxide (CO), ultrafine particle number concentration (PNC), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5)) during commutes between the home and workplace for 45 participants. Participants completed 8 days of commuting by car and bicycle on direct and alternative (reduced traffic) routes. Mean within-person exposures to BC, PM2.5, and PNC were higher when commuting by cycling than when driving, but mean CO exposure was lower when cycling. Exposures to CO and BC were reduced when commuting along alternative routes. When cumulative exposure was considered, the benefits from cycling were attenuated, in the case of CO, or exacerbated, in the case of particulate exposures, owing to the increased duration of the commute. Although choice of route can reduce mean exposure, the effect of route length and duration often offsets these reductions when cumulative exposure is considered. Furthermore, increased ventilation rate when cycling may result in a more harmful dose than inhalation at a lower ventilation rate.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.|Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Nicholas
N
Good
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Anna
A
Mölter
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Charis
C
Ackerson
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Annette
A
Bachand
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Taylor
T
Carpenter
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Maggie L
ML
Clark
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Kristen M
KM
Fedak
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Ashleigh
A
Kayne
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Kirsten
K
Koehler
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Brianna
B
Moore
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.|Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Christian
C
L'Orange
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Casey
C
Quinn
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Viney
V
Ugave
Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health, and Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
Amy L
AL
Stuart
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Jennifer L
JL
Peel
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.|Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
John
J
Volckens
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D001336:Automobiles / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001642:Bicycling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis*; D003120:Colorado; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D053260:Soot / Q000032:analysis*; D014186:Transportation; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D053260:Soot; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D002248:Carbon Monoxide