Particle Number Concentration Measurements on Public Transport in Bangkok, Thailand

James C. Matthews (), Chalida Chompoobut, Panida Navasumrit, M. Anwar H. Khan, Matthew D. Wright, Mathuros Ruchirawat and Dudley E. Shallcross
Additional contact information
James C. Matthews: Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
Chalida Chompoobut: Chulabhorn Research Institute, 54 Kamphaeng-Phet 6 Road, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
Panida Navasumrit: Chulabhorn Research Institute, 54 Kamphaeng-Phet 6 Road, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
M. Anwar H. Khan: Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
Matthew D. Wright: Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
Mathuros Ruchirawat: Chulabhorn Research Institute, 54 Kamphaeng-Phet 6 Road, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
Dudley E. Shallcross: Atmospheric Chemistry Research Group, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock’s Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: Traffic is a major source of particulate pollution in large cities, and particulate matter (PM) level in Bangkok often exceeds the World Health Organisation limits. While PM 2.5 and PM 10 are both measured in Bangkok regularly, the sub-micron range of PM, of specific interest in regard to possible adverse health effects, is very limited. In the study, particle number concentration (PNC) was measured on public transport in Bangkok. A travel route through Bangkok using the state railway, the mass rapid transport underground system, the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) Skytrain and public buses on the road network, with walking routes between, was taken whilst measuring particle levels with a hand-held concentration particle counter. The route was repeated 19 times covering different seasons during either morning or evening rush hours. The highest particle concentrations were found on the state railway, followed by the bus, the BTS Skytrain and the MRT underground with measured peaks of 350,000, 330,000, 33,000 and 9000 cm −3 , respectively, though particle numbers over 100,000 cm −3 may be an underestimation due to undercounting in the instrument. Inside each form of public transport, particle numbers would peak when stopping to collect passengers (doors opening) and decay with a half-life between 2 and 3 min. There was a weak correlation between particle concentration on bus, train and BTS and Skytrain with carbon monoxide concentration, as measured at a fixed location in the city.

Keywords: particulate matter; aerosol; ultrafine particles; personal exposure; public transport; bus; train; Skytrain; underground (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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