Inequality in personal exposure to air pollution in transport microenvironments for commuters in Bogotá. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guzman, Luis A.; Beltran, Carlos; Morales, Ricardo; Sarmiento, Olga L.
• Is Part Of: Case studies on transport policy. Volume 11(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: Transport inequalities -- Personal exposure -- Spatial inequality -- Travel patterns -- Latin America -- Bogotá; Transportation and state -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Planning -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Research -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 388.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cstp.2023.100963
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2213-624X

Abstract

Highlights: In poor and peripheral neighborhoods, the inhaled doses are up to three times higher than the average dose in the study area. 70 % of travelers in Bogotá experience a potential dose of inhaled PM2.5 larger than 226 µg/day during their commute. People belonging to the poorest bottom 40% inhaled 1.28 more CO than the top wealthy 10% for every minute they travel. The poorer population makes more sustainable trips (active and public transport) but are much more exposed to air pollution. The distribution of potential inhaled doses is mainly controlled by travel time. Abstract: Commuters in Bogotá (Colombia) are exposed to high concentrations of air pollutants, in part, due to their proximity to mobile sources. This paper analyzes current inequalities in the potential daily inhaled dose of particulate matter (PM2.5 ), black carbon (BC), and carbon monoxide (CO) that commuters experience in transport microenvironments according to their socioeconomic background and travel patterns in Bogotá. We use data reported from in-situ measurements of personal exposure to air pollutants in different transport modes and several locations across the city as well as detailed commuter travel time and travel choice data from a city-wide household mobility survey. The personal exposure data together with the mobility survey are then used to estimate the potential inhaled dose of commuters in different transport modes and to investigate the potential associations between the most salient features of commuter exposure. We found larger inequalities in the potential daily inhaled dose of air pollutants between the lowest and the highest quintile of the population distribution. The results also suggest that inequality is largely explained by the transport mode of commuters and travel time. Results are useful for informing further public policies aimed at minimizing air pollution exposure and decreasing the current exposure inequalities, particularly to improve the disadvantaged situation of the low-income population.