Commuting Patterns and Estimated Air Pollutant Exposures in the Rutgers Commuter Community Cohort (RC3) Study

摘要

AIM: Among automobile commuters in urban areas, in-vehicle microenvironments can account for a substantial proportion of daily exposures to traffic-related air pollutants (TRAP), which have been associated with adverse pulmonary, cardiovascular, neurological, and reproductive health outcomes. The high degree of spatial and temporal variability of these exposures presents a challenge for studies of potential adverse health effects of exposures to TRAP among daily commuters. METHODS: To assemble a cohort of commuters for studies of short- and long-term exposure to TRAP and other physical and psychosocial stressors during commuting, we administered an on-line survey to characterize commuting patterns among 18,196 Rutgers University faculty and staff at the New Brunswick/Piscataway NJ campus. Using survey data on commute routes and times, we are estimating individual-level exposures to diesel particulate matter and other TRAP during daily commutes using atmospheric dispersion modeling. Survey data and estimated exposures will be used to recruit subjects for more-intensive studies of measured exposures and changes in health-related biomarkers. RESULTS: 5,008 (28% of those invited) employees provided survey data, including 2,788 (61%) full-time staff and 1,132 (25%) full-time faculty. 60% were female. 4,145 (91%) commuted by private automobile. 2,004 (44%) of respondents had usual commutes to work of > 40 minutes, with the majority of respondents spending time on major highways. The geographic distribution of the locations of the origin of automobile commutes to the central campus location was plotted (figure). 2,464 respondents consented to be contacted for future studies. CONCLUSIONS: The survey results provide the basis for planning studies of impacts of commuting-related air pollution and other stressors on health. The diversity of observed commuting patterns will enable selection of commuters with contrasting commuting characteristics for studies of TRAP exposures, acute biomarker responses, and acute and chronic health outcomes.