Exposure to carbon monoxide, respirable suspended particulates, and volatile organic compounds while commuting by bicycle

Journal Article · Sun Mar 31 23:00:00 EST 1991 · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00016a026· OSTI ID:5151316

Bevan, M A.J.; Proctor, C J; Baker-Rogers, J; Warren, N D ^[1]

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1. British-American Tobacco Co. Ltd., Southampton (England)

A portable air sampling system has been used to assess exposures to various substances while commuting by bicycle in an urban area. The major source of pollutants in this situation is motor vehicle exhaust emissions. Carbon monoxide, measured by electrochemical detection, was found at peak concentrations in excess of 62 ppm, with mean values over 16 individual 35-mm journeys being 10.5 ppm. Respirable suspended particulates, averaged over each journey period, were found at higher concentrations (mean 130 {mu}g m{sup {minus}3}) than would be expected in indoor situations. Mean exposure to benzene (at 56 {mu}g m{sup {minus}3}) and other aromatic volatile organic compounds was also relatively high. The influence of wind conditions on exposure was found to be significant. Commuting exposures to carbon monoxide, respirable suspended particulates, and aromatic VOCs were found to be higher than exposures in a busy high street and on common parkland.

• OSTI ID: 5151316
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 25:4; ISSN ESTHA; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
AROMATICS
BENZENE
BICYCLES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMISTRY
DATA
DESORPTION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
EQUIPMENT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MONITORING
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PORTABLE EQUIPMENT
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
SAMPLING
SPECTROSCOPY
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
VEHICLES
WIND