Utility of an alternative bicycle commute route of lower proximity to motorised traffic in decreasing exposure to ultra-fine particles, respiratory symptoms and airway inflammation - a structured exposure experiment

Tom Cole-Hunter; Lidia Morawska; Ian Stewart; Matthew Hadaway; Rohan Jayaratne; Colin Solomon

doi:10.1186/1476-069X-12-29

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Utility of an alternative bicycle commute route of lower proximity to motorised traffic in decreasing exposure to ultra-fine particles, respiratory symptoms and airway inflammation - a structured exposure experiment

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Utility of an alternative bicycle commute route of lower proximity to motorised traffic in decreasing exposure to ultra-fine particles, respiratory symptoms and airway inflammation - a structured exposure experiment

Tom Cole-Hunter, Lidia Morawska, Ian Stewart, Matthew Hadaway, Rohan Jayaratne and Colin Solomon

Environmental Health, Vol.12, 29

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-12-29

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Abstract

air pollution

bicycle commuting

ultrafine particle

respiratory symptom

lung function

inflammatory cell

risk management

Background: Bicycle commuting in an urban environment of high air pollution is known as a potential health risk, especially for susceptible individuals. While risk management strategies aimed to reduce motorised traffic emissions exposure have been suggested, limited studies have assessed the utility of such strategies in real-world circumstances. Objectives: The potential of lowering exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP; less than 0.1??m) during bicycle commuting by reducing proximity to motorised traffic was investigated with real-time air pollution and intermittent acute inflammatory measurements in healthy individuals using their typical, and an alternative, bicycle commute route. Methods: Thirty-five healthy adults (mean ? SD: age = 39 ? 11?yr; 29% female) completed two return trips, one each of their typical route (HIGH) and a pre-determined alternative route of lower proximity to motorised traffic (LOW; determined by the proportion of on-road cycle paths). Particle number concentration (PNC) and diameter (PD) were monitored in-commute in real-time. Acute inflammatory indices of respiratory symptom incidence, lung function and spontaneous sputum (for inflammatory cell analyses) were collected immediately pre-commute, and one and three hours post-commute. Results: In LOW, compared to HIGH, there was a significant decrease in mean PNC (1.91 × e4 ? 0.93 ? e4 ppcc vs. 2.95 ? e4 ? 1.50 ? e4 ppcc; p ? 0.001), the incidence of in-commute offensive odour detection (42 vs. 56%; p = 0.019), and the incidence of dust and soot observation (33 vs. 47%; p = 0.038) and nasopharyngeal irritation (31 vs. 41%; p = 0.007). There were no significant differences between LOW and HIGH in the commute distance and duration (12.8 ? 7.1 vs. 12.0 ? 6.9?km and 44 ? 17 vs. 42 ? 17?min, respectively), or indices of acute airway inflammation. Conclusions: Exposure to PNC (and the incidence of offensive odour and nasopharyngeal irritation) can be significantly lowered when utilising a route of reduced proximity to motorised traffic whilst bicycle commuting (without significantly affecting commute distance or duration), which may bring important benefits for both healthy and susceptible individuals.

Details

Title: Utility of an alternative bicycle commute route of lower proximity to motorised traffic in decreasing exposure to ultra-fine particles, respiratory symptoms and airway inflammation - a structured exposure experiment
Authors: Tom Cole-Hunter (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Lidia Morawska (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Ian Stewart (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Matthew Hadaway (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Rohan Jayaratne (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Colin Solomon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Environmental Health, Vol.12, 29; 12
Publisher: BioMed Central Ltd.
Date published: 2013
DOI: 10.1186/1476-069X-12-29
ISSN: 1476-069X
Copyright note: Copyright © 2013 Cole-Hunter et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)
Organisation Unit: Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health - Sports & Exercise Science; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448728802621
Output Type: Journal article

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