Exposure to particulate matter, CO2, CO, VOCs among bus drivers in Bangkok
Kongtip, P.; Anthayanon, T.; Yoosook, W.; Onchoi, C.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 95(Suppl 6): S169-S178
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 23130504 Document Number: 12566
To measure the exposure of particulate matter CO2, CO, VOCs among Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) Bus Drivers. The exposure of 60 bus drivers to PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, CO2, CO was monitored for full shifts on three routes of air-conditioned (A/C) and non-A/C buses. The average PM2.5 exposure concentrations among non-A/C bus drivers (323.81 mg/m3) were significantly higher than that of A/C bus drivers (206.46 mg/m3) (p-value = 0.016). The average benzene, toluene and xylene exposure concentrations were 429.15, 225.11, 127.60 mg/m for non-A/C bus drivers. The average CO2 levels in A/C buses were significantly higher than those in non-A/C buses (p-value < 0.001). The CO levels in non-A/C buses were significantly higher than those in A/C buses (p-value = 0.037). The bus drivers were exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants. The increase of ventilation and cleaning of buses will reduce the exposure of air pollutants.