ClanLee

https://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/...oseofpollution

Driving is more hazardous than anyone knew: A heavy commuter inhales more pollution while driving than in the entire rest of the day, a new study finds.
ADVERTISEMENT

The research was done in Los Angeles, where the average driver spends 1.5 hours behind the wheel. That time in traffic accounts for 33 to 45 percent of total exposure to diesel and ultrafine particles (UFP), the study showed.

On freeways, diesel-fueled trucks are the source of the highest concentrations of harmful pollutants.

"If you have otherwise healthy habits and don't smoke, driving to work is probably the most unhealthy part of your day," said Scott Fruin, assistant professor of environmental health at the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California. "Urban dwellers with long commutes are probably getting most of their UFP exposure while driving."

Ultrafine particles are of particular concern because, unlike larger particles, they can penetrate cell walls and disperse throughout the body, Fruin said. Particulate matter has been linked to cardiovascular disease, but the ultrafine fraction on roadways appears to be more toxic than larger sizes.

Previous research found children on school buses breathe more pollution. And a study in London found people in taxis, buses, and cars all inhale substantially more pollution than cyclists and pedestrians.

In the new study, researchers measured exposure by outfitting an electric vehicle with air pollution instruments. A video recorded surrounding traffic and driving conditions on freeways and arterial roads throughout the Los Angeles region. Measurements were collected during a three-month period from February to April 2003, and four typical days were selected for a second-by-second video and statistical analysis.

"This study was the first to look at the effect of driving and traffic conditions at this level of detail and to demonstrate the specific factors leading to the highest pollutant exposures for drivers," Fruin says. "The extent that a specific type of vehicle—diesel trucks—dominated the highest concentration conditions on freeways was unexpected."

Driving with the windows closed and using recirculating air settings can modestly reduce the particle pollution exposures but does not reduce most gaseous pollutants, the researchers concluded.

"Shortening your commute and spending less time in the car will significantly reduce your total body burden of harmful pollutants," Fruin said.

The study was supported by the California Air Resources Board.

ClanLee

Yet another reason to commute by bike!

https://www.livescience.com/environme...pollution.html

On average, taxi passengers were exposed to more than 100,000 ultrafine particle counts per cubic centimeter. Bus travelers were exposed to just under 100,000 and people in cars about 40,000.

Pedestrians and bicyclists, meanwhile, were exposed to counts of just 5,000 and 8,000, respectively.

Ultrafine particles are so small that large amounts can be inhaled in a single breath, after which they can settle in the lungs and damage cells.

Domromer

I drive 8 hours a day! What must my lungs be like. I need another job

Mr. Underbridge

I've long thought that diesel truck engines should be forced to have stringent particulate control. It seems absolutely asinine to force cars to meet very tough (relatively) pollution standards, then you see a truck belch a nasty black cloud. What's the point?

VA_Dave

I wonder if this will have any effect on the secondhand smoke alarmists. I'm guessing not.

wolfbrother

It definitely won't. In fact, I was revently involved in an argument about banning smoking inside bars. I brought up the point that we should outlaw parking garages because all of the people who work in them and use them are exposed to massive amounts of pollution. I was basically met with blank stares.

I don't mean to turn this into a discussion about smoking, but there are a lot of parallels between the two.

wolfbrother

^ for the record, I was being mostly sarcastic because I don't think that smoking should be outlawed in bars (like I said, this is another discussion for another time) but when you bring up cars in a bad light most people treat you like a heretic.

nick burns

Alarmists?

VA_Dave

Yup, alarmists. The "study" was bunk and everyone screaming "think of the children" has one hand on the wheel of their SUV and the other on a cellphone. It's nothing more than dressing up a dislike of the smell as a health issue.

nick burns

If you say so.

Sir Bikesalot

I've long thought cars should be equipped with HEPA and activated carbon filters to purify incoming air. If any of you here is involved with the car industry in any way, please help get this message out!

Of course, you can always buy a filter and power it off the cigarette lighter, but really who's going to do that? (OK I did, but that's me)

Then there's personal devices like respirators (search under 'pollution masks' for detailed threads) that drivers and bikers can both take advantage of. I myself use a product made by Respro; others here prefer the more rigorous half-mask respirators by manufacturers such as 3M, etc. Bottom line: They work, but ppl will look at you funny. Who cares though? It's sending out the message that 'hey, I don't want to breathe your filthy dirty air!' or possibly 'I have SARS and don't want to spread it!" Either way, you'll get people thinking...and that's always a good thing.

airosen

That's really nice to hear... I started commuting to school yesterday (), riding down an arterial road (Yonge Street for those Torontonians), and it seemed like I must have been inhaling A LOT of fumes, riding right alongside cars, trucks and busses. I assume the air's worse along a main road than along side streets.
I have to say though, I love bicycle commuting! It's fast, healthy, and convenient!

gmule

Higher end GM and Toyota vehicles already have this.

ad6mj

These are interesting numbers. It doesn't make riding a bus or taxi very attractive. I'm somewhat confused why a cyclist wouldn't inhale as much, or even more stuff if they are traveling the same route and involved in aerobic exercise?

GGDub

I've always figured you get it worse in a car simply because you're in an enclosed space that's drawing its "fresh" air from the street.

More importantly, when your stopped behind another vehicle, the particulates and other gasses have more time to collect in your car's interior.

MrCjolsen

Your "intake" while riding your bike is a few feet higher than that of a car. Also, most of the time a cyclist is not directly behind pollution spewing vehicles, but rather off to the side.

Pollutants settle inside the cage and are carried with it long after they stopped entering the vehicle. So the air inside a car is often dirtier than the air outside.

CastIron

So, yet again we can conclude that breathing combustion by-products to be a bad idea. How is this news?

yes

Those #s are particles per cubic cm. To compare per mile, you would need to multiply by breathing rate and time exposed.
Particles inhaled could be up as high or higher for bikers than for drivers per mile.

Dahon.Steve

Effictive Cycling expect you to stay behind the pollution spewing vehicles! Remember, lane splitting is wrong and the good cyclist waits behind the long line of cars no matter how bad the polution. After all, we all want the motorist to repect us by breathing in the same polution!

CastIron

A fine idea! Perhaps I'll just add two wheels and a full body fairing while I'm playing pretend as well.

ClanLee

Whenever I'm in the car, I ALWAYS set the air to recycle. I know that it's not going to be effective from completely blocking UFP, but I think it should help some. Am I wrong? If I am, maybe it's time to buy those high end toyotas.

Booger1

Great,another waste of money by C.A.R.B. The same people that MAKE you get a smog test.Let's give a government agency more money to piss off.How about taking that money and making people tune up their cars to reduce pollution and give the money to people that own repair shops,so they can feed their families instead of funding more studies....

kungfugoat

I am surprised by the numbers. I thought cyclists would inhale more pollutants. I was sitting behind a filthy Volvo once and felt like I was going to pass out. It didn't help that I was sucking in air at the time. I pisses me off to know that we are out there trying to be healthy and strong, and yet we have to suck in fumes while sitting at traffic lights behind filthy cars. In the summer it feels like the temperature goes up 10 degrees when I am sitting at a light. Hopefully, I'll get in a few more good rides before I die of lung cancer.

crhilton

What does being fat have to do with it?

(That was a joke, don't respond).

dobovedo

Regardless.. the difference is there are a heck of a lot more non-smokers than there are non-drivers... present company included.