Exposures to Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds across Multiple Transportation Modes

Travellers may be exposed to a wide range of different air pollutants during their journeys. In this study, personal exposures within vehicles and active travel were tested in real-world conditions across nine transport modes on journeys from London Paddington Oxford City Centre, the United Kingdom. The covered cycling, walking, buses, coaches, trains private cars. Such are relevant questions traveller comfort safety context airborne diseases such as COVID-19 growing awareness health, productivity effects interior quality. Pollutants measured particle number (PN), mass (PM), carbon dioxide (CO2) speciated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), using devices carried or with traveller, pumped sampling. Whilst only relatively small assessed—inviting future work assess statistical significance—the current study highlights where particular focus exposure reduction should placed. Real-time results showed that dominated by short-term spikes ambient concentrations, when standing train platform, at roadside. size distribution particles varied significantly according situation. On average, coach created highest overall; had mixed performance, while cars typically lowest exposures. Sources included both combustion products entering vehicle care other passengers, which judged desk research most likely source each individual compound. Although more exhaust emissions walking benefit rapid dilution these open air. An important variable determining total was journey length, speed car advantageous compared relative slowness coach.