Vehicular Air Pollutants and Noise in Atlanta Commuting Público
Chen, Justin Han (2012)
Published
Abstract
Drivers in the United States are exposed to high concentrations of
air pollutants and
noise during commutes. Numerous negative health outcomes,
especially in
cardiovascular health, have been linked to both forms of exposure.
Noise may be
acting as a confounder in assessing the relationship between
traffic pollution and
acute adverse cardiovascular health outcomes. This study was
performed in order to
quantitatively examine the associations between in-vehicle noise
and several traffic
pollutants in multiple roadway microenvironments. Sampling was
conducted in 3
different sampling scenarios: 1) within a stationary outdoor
setting; 2) within an in-
vehicle stationary setting; and 3) within a moving in-vehicle
setting. This was done in
order to differentiate the effect the personally driven vehicle had
upon both noise
and air pollutant exposure. During the in-vehicle sampling
scenarios, ventilation and
window status were accounted for. Air pollutants measured were
particulate matter
2.5 mass (PM2.5), ultrafine particulate matter (UFPM), black carbon
(BC), and
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Noise levels were measured
concurrently
with air pollutants. Resulting correlation coefficients between
measured air
pollutants and noise varied upon sampling scenario. The stationary
outdoor
sampling scenario exhibited the lowest values compared to the two
in-vehicle
sampling scenarios, with the stationary in-vehicle scenario showing
the greatest
correlation values for PM2.5 and BC, and the moving in-vehicle
scenario showing the
greatest values for UFPM and PAH. Strengths of association ranged
from moderately
strong (RS > 0.60) to weak. Vehicle ventilation status had a
mixed effect upon
pollutant-noise correlations, but the stationary in-vehicle setting
generally showed a
more pronounced effect compared to the moving in-vehicle sampling
scenario.
Vehicular speed as a modifier of the linear relationship between
measured air
pollutants and noise exposure was also examined, and it was found
that UFPM and
BC may infiltrate the vehicle cabin with greater efficiency at
higher speeds. The
results of the regression analysis found similar results as the
calculated correlation
values, and time lagged pollutant exposures generally had a
weakening effect upon
associations. Noise acting as a confounder or effect modifier of
vehicular air
pollution is possible depending upon numerous variables, including
air pollutant type
and the exposure setting.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1. Introduction pg. 1
2. Materials and Methods pg. 3
a. Data Analysis pg. 6
3. Results and Discussion pg. 6
a. Correlation between Noise and Pollutant Measurements by
Sampling
Scenario pg. 8
b. Vehicle Ventilation Status and Pollutant-Noise correlations pg.
9
c. Correlations between the Air Pollutants and Noise by Vehicle
Speed pg. 11
d. Associations between Noise and Air Pollution using Regression
Analyses pg.
12
4. Conclusion and Recommendations pg. 17
5. References pg. 18
6. Tables and Figures pg. 20
a. Figure 1 pg. 20
b. Table 1 pg. 20
c. Table 2 pg. 21
d. Table 3 pg. 21
e. Table 4 pg. 21
f. Figure 2 pg. 22
g. Figure 3 pg. 23
h. Figure 4 pg. 23
i. Figure 5 pg. 24
j. Figure 6 pg. 25
k. Figure 7 pg. 26
l. Table 5 pg. 27
About this Master's Thesis
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