10th International Aerosol Conference September 2 - September 7, 2018 America's Center Convention Complex St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Black Carbon during Cycling: A Comparison between London and São Paulo
VERONIKA SASSEN BRAND, Prashant Kumar, Maria de Fatima Andrade, University of Sao Paulo
Abstract Number: 1318 Working Group: Aerosol Exposure
Abstract People, during commuting, mainly through active transport, like cycling and walking, are exposed to higher concentrations of traffic emissions due to their proximity to on-road vehicles. Several epidemiological studies relate particulate matter (PM), including the black carbon (BC) fraction, exposure to both mortality and morbidity caused by respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. As a part of ASTRID Project (Accessibility, Social justice and Transport emission Impacts of transit-oriented Development strategies) and PEDALS project (Particles and Black Carbon Exposure to London and Sao Paulo Bike-Lane Users), we did a comparative assessment of commuters exposure to both fine particles (PM2.5) and BC in specific cycle routes in the cities of London (UK) and São Paulo (Brazil). In both cities, we measured, during the peak and off-peak hours, PM2.5 and BC concentrations using a personal exposure monitoring backpack equipped with a MicroAeth AE51 to monitor BC, a DustTrak II Aerosol Model 8530 monitor in Brazil and a GRIMM EDM 107 aerosol spectrometer in the UK to measure PM2.5 concentrations. Three origin-destination (O-D) routes pairs were chosen in both cities. Each O-D pair gave two routes, the first one being along busy/major roads and the second one presumed to be less polluted since we preferably passed through green/blue/quiet areas. Thus, the aim of this work was to: (1) compare the exposure to PM2.5 and BC while cycling during peak and off-peak hours at the chosen routes, (2) identify main pollution hotspots resulting in increased exposure, (3) investigate the correlation between the measured concentrations and the type of cycle lane/presence of vegetation/proximity to water bodies, and (4) calculate the inhaled respiratory deposition doses (RDD). We observed that São Paulo had the highest mean concentration of BC (11 µg/m³) and PM2.5 (29 µg/m³), while London, in average, showed 5 µg/m³ of BC and 17 µg/m³ of PM2.5. PM2.5 and BC concentrations were always higher during the morning peak hours when compared to the evening peak hours, except in São Paulo, where the evening peak was the one with the highest mean concentration of BC (11.4 µg/m³). There was also found that cyclists using a route, which passed through the green/open areas and had relatively less traffic volumes, found to be less exposed to both pollutants assessed. The findings in this work are important to policy makers and urban planners when planning new cycle networks with less exposure levels, not only in the two urban areas assessed, but also as a model to other urban locations.