Author : Pramod Kumar and N.C. Gupta

 
A field study was carried out to measure exposure of particle number to commuter on four major commuting modes (in-cabin mode: bus, car and auto rickshaw; on-roadway mode: motorcycle) along a route in Delhi. Recent studies worldwide suggest that number concentration could be a much better predictor and indicator of health effects of particulate than the mass concentration. Portable aerosol spectrometer (GRIMM-Model- 1.108) was used to measure particles concentration twice a day (morning and evening) for 5 weekdays along predetermined route between Kashmere gate and GGSIP University, Dwarka in Delhi region. The results clearly show that the level of exposure was significantly influenced by the commuting mode, showing a higher fine numbers (more than 99%) than coarse (less than 1%) on roadway mode. Higher average concentrations of total PN were observed in motorcycle compared to auto rickshaw, bus and car in morning and in evening the order being bus, motorcycle, auto rickshaw and car respectively. Besides characterizing the various microenvironments in terms of particle number concentration, the results allow the assessment of the individual exposure during commute based on the typical time pattern of people commuting in Delhi. This study has valuable implications that can help commuters to adopt appropriate travel behavior to reduce their personal exposure to such pollutants.

Keywords: Aerosol; Commuter; Exposure; Commuting modes; Particle number

Article published in International Journal of Current  Engineering  and Technology, Vol.3,No.3(Aug- 2013)