Personal exposures to traffic-related air pollution in three Canadian bus transit systems: the Urban Transportation Exposure Study

BACKGROUND: Exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is associated with increased incidence of several cardiopulmonary diseases. The elevated TRAP exposures of commuting environments can result in significant contributions to daily exposures. OBJECTIVES: To assess the personal TRAP exposures (UFPs, BC, PM(2.5), and PM(10)) of the bus transit systems of Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver, Canada. Personal exposure models estimated the contribution of bus commuting to daily TRAP exposures. Associations between bus type and riding exposures and bus stop/station type and waiting exposures were estimated. RESULTS: Bus commuting (4.6% of the day) contributed ~59%(SD = 15%), 60%(SD = 20%), and 57%(SD = 18%) of daily PM(2.5)-Ba and 70%(SD = 19%), 64%(SD = 15%), and 70%(SD = 15%) of daily PM(2.5)-Fe, in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver, respectively. Enclosed bus stations were found to be hotspots of PM(2.5) and BC. Buses with diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and hybrid diesel/electric propulsion were found to have significantly lower in-bus PM(2.5), UFP, and BC relative to 1983–2003 diesel buses in each city with the exception of UFP in Vancouver. SIGNIFICANCE: Personal exposures for traffic-related air pollutants were assessed for three Canadian bus transit systems. In each system, bus commuting was estimated to contribute significantly toward daily exposures of fine-fraction Ba and Fe as well as BC. Exposures while riding were associated with bus type for several pollutants in each city. These associations suggest the use of hybrid diesel/electric buses equipped with diesel particulate filters have improved air quality for riders.