Imperial College London
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Prof Benjamin Barratt

Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health

Professor in Environmental Exposures and Public Health
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 2409b.barratt Website

 
 
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Location

 

UREN.1023Sir Michael Uren HubWhite City Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@article{Lim:2021:10.1016/j.envint.2021.106532,
author = {Lim, S and Barratt, B and Holliday, L and Griffiths, CJ and Mudway, I},
doi = {10.1016/j.envint.2021.106532},
journal = {Environment International},
title = {Characterising professional drivers’ exposure to traffic-related air pollution: Evidence for reduction strategies from in-vehicle personal exposure monitoring},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106532},
volume = {153},
year = {2021}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Professional drivers working in congested urban areas are required to work near harmful traffic related pollutants for extended periods, representing a significant, but understudied occupational risk. This study collected personal black carbon (BC) exposures for 141 drivers across seven sectors in London. The aim of the study was to assess the magnitude and the primary determinants of their exposure, leading to the formulation of targeted exposure reduction strategies for the occupation. Each participant’s personal BC exposures were continuously measured using real-time monitors for 96 h, incorporating four shifts per participant. ‘At work’ BC exposures (3.1 ± 3.5 µg/m3) were 2.6 times higher compared to when ‘not at work’ (1.2 ± 0.7 µg/m3). Workers spent 19% of their time ‘at work driving’, however this activity contributed 36% of total BC exposure, highlighting the disproportionate effect driving had on their daily exposure. Taxi drivers experienced the highest BC exposures due to the time they spent working in congested central London, while emergency services had the lowest. Spikes in exposure were observed while driving and were at times greater than 100 µg/m3. The most significant determinants of drivers’ exposures were driving in tunnels, congestion, location, day of week and time of shift. Driving with closed windows significantly reduced exposures and is a simple behaviour change drivers could implement. Our results highlight strategies by which employers and local policy makers can reduce professional drivers’ exposure to traffic-related air pollution.
AU  - Lim,S
AU  - Barratt,B
AU  - Holliday,L
AU  - Griffiths,CJ
AU  - Mudway,I
DO  - 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106532
PY  - 2021///
SN  - 0160-4120
TI  - Characterising professional drivers’ exposure to traffic-related air pollution: Evidence for reduction strategies from in-vehicle personal exposure monitoring
T2  - Environment International
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106532
UR  - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/88630
VL  - 153
ER  -
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