Exposure to Particulate Matter, CO2, CO, VOCs among Bus Drivers in Bangkok
Pornpimol Kongtip PhD*, Tiyaporn Anthayanon MS*, Witaya Yoosook PhD*, Chompunut Onchoi MS*
Affiliation : * Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Center of Excellence on Environmental Health, Toxicology and Management of Chemicals (ETM), Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To measure the exposure of particulate matter, CO2, CO, VOCs among Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA)
Bus Drivers.
Material and Method: 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.
Results : 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/m3 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).
Conclusion : 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.
Keywords : PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, CO, CO2, Bus drivers, Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA)
