That morning commute can be a real killer -- in more ways than one.
Atmospheric science researchers armed with scientific equipment sampled the air on the streets and on the mass rapid transit (MRT) system in Taipei and discovered that commuters were breathing in four to five times more dangerous particles than normal levels.
Levels of particle matter below 2.5 micrometers in diameter -- or PM2.5 -- and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were highest in the morning and scooter riders stuck in traffic were the most exposed.
"A major source of PM2.5 is engine exhaust," said Lung Shih-chun (龍世俊), associate research fellow at Academia Sinica's Center for Environmental Changes.
"The closer you get to traffic, the higher the concentration of fine particular matter and harmful hydrocarbon compounds," Lung said.
The samplings were taken in 2004 and 2005 between two MRT stations in Taipei.
Lung cited the "Six Cities" study conducted in 1993, which showed a strong correlation between exposure to PM2.5 and cardiovascular and lung-related deaths.
"Fine particulate matters are not filtered out by our body but are breathed deep into the lungs," she said.
The study showed that on average scooter drivers were exposed to PM2.5 concentrations of 161 micrograms per cubic meter during their daily commute, substantially more than the 90 micrograms per cubic meter for car drivers and 105 micrograms per cubic meter for people riding on the MRT.
"We could see the concentrations spike at traffic lights, with scooter riders sitting behind the idling engines of the vehicles in front of them," she said.
Scooter riders were also most vulnerable to PAHs, another component of engine exhaust and a highly potent carcinogen.
The study found that scooter riders are exposed to PAH concentrations of 29 nanograms per cubic meter, compared to 8 nanograms per cubic meter for car drivers.
The PAH concentration on the MRT, meanwhile, was below detectable levels, Lung said.
Although the study did not follow bus commuters, Lung said exposure levels were likely to be between that of car drivers and scooter riders because of the frequent opening of bus doors and long waits at bus stops.
Cyclists were likely the worst off as exercising increases the volume of oxygen breathed in, she said.
The levels of fine particulate matter, including PAHs, were consistently more serious in the mornings as there is less air movement, Lung said, adding that sunlight later on helps clear up some pollutants, which tend to be trapped close to the ground.
For people who continue to ride their scooters and bicycles, Lung said face masks were advisable.
"My previous research showed that even the cheap cotton masks block more than a third of fine particulate matter," she said.
WANG RELEASED: A police investigation showed that an organized crime group allegedly taught their clients how to pretend to be sick during medical exams Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) and 11 others were released on bail yesterday, after being questioned for allegedly dodging compulsory military service or forging documents to help others avoid serving. Wang, 33, was catapulted into stardom for his role in the coming-of-age film Our Times (我的少女時代). Lately, he has been focusing on developing his entertainment career in China. The New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office last month began investigating an organized crime group that is allegedly helping men dodge compulsory military service using falsified documents. Police in New Taipei City Yonghe Precinct at the end of last month arrested the main suspect,
A cat named Mikan (蜜柑) has brought in revenue of more than NT$10 million (US$305,390) for the Kaohsiung MRT last year. Mikan, born on April 4, 2020, was a stray cat before being adopted by personnel of Kaohsiung MRT’s Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station. Mikan was named after a Japanese term for mandarin orange due to his color and because he looks like an orange when curled up. He was named “station master” of Ciaotou Sugar Refinery Station in September 2020, and has since become famous. With Kaohsiung MRT’s branding, along with the release of a set of cultural and creative products, station master Mikan
Eleven people, including actor Darren Wang (王大陸), were taken into custody today for questioning regarding the evasion of compulsory military service and document forgery, the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said. Eight of the people, including Wang, are suspected of evading military service, while three are suspected of forging medical documents to assist them, the report said. They are all being questioned by police and would later be transferred to the prosecutors’ office for further investigation. Three men surnamed Lee (李), Chang (張) and Lin (林) are suspected of improperly assisting conscripts in changing their military classification from “stand-by
LITTORAL REGIMENTS: The US Marine Corps is transitioning to an ‘island hopping’ strategy to counterattack Beijing’s area denial strategy The US Marine Corps (USMC) has introduced new anti-drone systems to bolster air defense in the Pacific island chain amid growing Chinese military influence in the region, The Telegraph reported on Sunday. The new Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) Mk 1 is being developed to counter “the growing menace of unmanned aerial systems,” it cited the Marine Corps as saying. China has constructed a powerful defense mechanism in the Pacific Ocean west of the first island chain by deploying weapons such as rockets, submarines and anti-ship missiles — which is part of its anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy against adversaries — the
RSS