Evaluation of indoor environmental quality, personal cumulative exposure dose, and aerosol transmission risk levels inside urban buses in Dalian, China

The transmission of pollutants in buses has an important impact on personal exposure to airborne particles and spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in enclosed spaces. We conducted the following real-time field measurements inside buses: CO(2), airborne particle concentration, temperature, and relative humidity data during peak and off-peak hours in spring and autumn. Correlation analysis was adopted to evaluate the dominant factors influencing CO(2) and particle mass concentrations in the vehicle. The cumulative personal exposure dose to particulate matter and reproduction number were calculated for passengers on a one-way trip. The results showed the in-cabin CO(2) concentrations, with 22.11% and 21.27% of the total time exceeding 1000 ppm in spring and autumn respectively. In-cabin PM(2.5) mass concentration exceeded 35 μm/m(3) by 57.35% and 86.42% in spring and autumn, respectively. CO(2) concentration and the cumulative number of passengers were approximately linearly correlated in both seasons, with R value up to 0.896. The cumulative number of passengers had the most impact on PM(2.5) mass concentration among tested parameters. The cumulative personal exposure dose to PM(2.5) during a one-way trip in autumn was up to 43.13 μg. The average reproductive number throughout the one-way trip was 0.26; it was 0.57 under the assumed extreme environment. The results of this study provide an important basic theoretical guidance for the optimization of ventilation system design and operation strategies aimed at reducing multi-pollutant integrated health exposure and airborne particle infection (such as SARS-CoV-2) risks. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-023-26037-x.