Simulation of Population-Based Commuter Exposure to NO 2 Using Different Air Pollution Models

Martina S. Ragettli, Ming-Yi Tsai, Charlotte Braun-Fahrländer, Audrey De Nazelle, Christian Schindler, Alex Ineichen, Regina E. Ducret-Stich, Laura Perez, Nicole Probst-Hensch, Nino Künzli and Harish C. Phuleria
Additional contact information
Martina S. Ragettli: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, Basel 4002, Switzerland
Ming-Yi Tsai: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, Basel 4002, Switzerland
Charlotte Braun-Fahrländer: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, Basel 4002, Switzerland
Audrey De Nazelle: Centre for Environmental Policy, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
Christian Schindler: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, Basel 4002, Switzerland
Alex Ineichen: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, Basel 4002, Switzerland
Regina E. Ducret-Stich: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, Basel 4002, Switzerland
Laura Perez: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, Basel 4002, Switzerland
Nicole Probst-Hensch: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, Basel 4002, Switzerland
Nino Künzli: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, Basel 4002, Switzerland
Harish C. Phuleria: Centre for Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, Bombay, Mumbai 400076, India

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 5, 1-20

Abstract: We simulated commuter routes and long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution during commute in a representative population sample in Basel (Switzerland), and evaluated three air pollution models with different spatial resolution for estimating commute exposures to nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) as a marker of long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution. Our approach includes spatially and temporally resolved data on actual commuter routes, travel modes and three air pollution models. Annual mean NO 2 commuter exposures were similar between models. However, we found more within-city and within-subject variability in annual mean (±SD) NO 2 commuter exposure with a high resolution dispersion model (40 ± 7 µg m ?3 , range: 21–61) than with a dispersion model with a lower resolution (39 ± 5 µg m ?3 ; range: 24–51), and a land use regression model (41 ± 5 µg m ?3 ; range: 24–54). Highest median cumulative exposures were calculated along motorized transport and bicycle routes, and the lowest for walking. For estimating commuter exposure within a city and being interested also in small-scale variability between roads, a model with a high resolution is recommended. For larger scale epidemiological health assessment studies, models with a coarser spatial resolution are likely sufficient, especially when study areas include suburban and rural areas.

Keywords: air pollution; model comparison; traffic; travel mode; travel pattern (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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