Urban Air Pollution: Formation, Exposure and Health Effects of Traffic Emission
Date Issued
2008
Date
2008
Author(s)
Tsai, Dai-Hua
Abstract
Traffic emissions contribute importantly to air pollution and are reported to negatively affect human health. This study aimed to investigate formation, exposure and health effects of traffic emissions. The ozone problem has drawn attention during the past years. However, most studies focused so far on ozone event and non-event days while less attention was given to ozone formation potentials. Therefore, the first part aimed to collect volatile organic compounds data from photochemical assessment stations in central Taiwan to analyze ozone formation potentials in urban, suburban and rural areas. The results showed that transported ozone and precursors, i.e. volatile organic compound (VOC) from upwind to downwind producing elevated ozone levels in the suburban and rural areas. We also used the VOC data to investigate the relationship between mortality and traffic-related VOCs, which was a novel approach. Our findings indicated that daily cardiovascular mortality is associated with acute exposure to traffic-related VOCs. Moreover, fuel combustion and road transport were identified as the dominant sources of particulate matters (PM). The third part of this study assessed the particle levels when commuters use different transportation modes during rush hours. Motorcycle commuters were exposed to the highest concentrations of PM and they also the highest exposure dose even though they had the shortest travel time. By contrast, car commuters were exposed to the lowest PM concentrations and doses. The last part of this study compared number concentrations of submicron and ultrafine particles in public transportation stations, i.e. bus station, train station and mass rapid transportation station. The highest average particle number concentration was found in Taipei bus station, where more diesel engine buses were driving by, and the lowest average particle number concentration was found in Taipei MRT station. In conclusion, our study findings provided evidence for traffic-related emission, health effects and exposure data.
Subjects
Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Station
Volatile Organic Compound
Cardiovascular Mortality
Particulate Matter
Commuter Exposure
Particle Number Concentrations
Ultrafine Particles
Type
thesis
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
ntu-97-D93841002-1.pdf
Size
23.32 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):ed4d1b5a77490764aac97404bc8c2694