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Characteristics of PM 2.5 and Black Carbon Exposure Among Subway Workers

Author

Listed:
  • Sangjun Choi

    (Department of Occupational Health, Daegu Catholic University, Gyeongsan 38430, Korea)

  • Ju-Hyun Park

    (Department of Statistics, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Korea)

  • So-Yeon Kim

    (Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University, Seoul 03087, Korea)

  • Hyunseok Kwak

    (Institute of Occupation and Environment, Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service, Incheon 21417, Korea)

  • Dongwon Kim

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea)

  • Kyong-Hui Lee

    (Force Health Protection & Preventive Medicine, MEDDAC-Korea, US Army, Seoul post 04386, Korea)

  • Dong-Uk Park

    (Department of Environmental Health, Korea National Open University, Seoul 03087, Korea)

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the characteristics of exposure to both PM 2.5 and black carbon (BC) among subway workers. A total of 61 subway workers, including 26, 23, and 12 subway station managers, maintenance engineers, and train drivers, respectively, were investigated in 2018. Real-time measurements of airborne PM 2.5 and BC were simultaneously conducted around the breathing zones of workers. Maintenance engineers had the highest average levels of exposure to both PM 2.5 and BC (PM 2.5 , 76 µg/m 3 ; BC, 9.3 µg/m 3 ), followed by train drivers (63.2 µg/m 3 , 5.9 µg/m 3 ) and subway station managers (39.7 µg/m 3 , 2.2 µg/m 3 ). In terms of the relationship between mass concentrations of PM 2.5 and BC, train drivers demonstrated the strongest correlation (R = 0.72), indicating that the proportion of BC contained in PM 2.5 is relatively steady. The average proportion of BC in PM 2.5 among maintenance engineers (13.0%) was higher than that among train drivers (9.4%) and subway station managers (6.4%). Univariate and mixed effect multiple analyses demonstrated the type of task and worksite to be significant factors affecting exposure levels in maintenance engineers and subway station managers. The use of diesel engine motorcars in tunnel maintenance was found to be a key contributor to PM 2.5 and BC exposure levels among subway workers.

Suggested Citation

  • Sangjun Choi & Ju-Hyun Park & So-Yeon Kim & Hyunseok Kwak & Dongwon Kim & Kyong-Hui Lee & Dong-Uk Park, 2019. "Characteristics of PM 2.5 and Black Carbon Exposure Among Subway Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:16:p:2901-:d:257313
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Hongyou Lu & Yunchan Zhu & Yu Qi & Jinliang Yu, 2018. "Do Urban Subway Openings Reduce PM 2.5 Concentrations? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-24, November.
    4. Athanasios Valavanidis & Thomais Vlachogianni & Konstantinos Fiotakis & Spyridon Loridas, 2013. "Pulmonary Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Cancer: Respirable Particulate Matter, Fibrous Dusts and Ozone as Major Causes of Lung Carcinogenesis through Reactive Oxygen Species Mechanisms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-22, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ismail Anil & Omar Alagha, 2020. "Source Apportionment of Ambient Black Carbon during the COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Yueming Wen & Jiawei Leng & Xiaobing Shen & Gang Han & Lijun Sun & Fei Yu, 2020. "Environmental and Health Effects of Ventilation in Subway Stations: A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-37, February.

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