Reductions in commuter exposure to volatile organic compounds in Mexico City due to the environmental program ProAire2002-2010

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2017 May;27(3):339-345. doi: 10.1038/jes.2016.31. Epub 2016 Jun 15.

Abstract

We investigated commuter exposure to volatile organic compounds in the metropolitan area of Mexico City in 2011 in private car, microbus, bus, metro, metrobus, and trolley bus. A similar survey was conducted in 2002 before initiation of the ProAire2002-2010 program aimed at reducing air pollution. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, and o-xylene were sampled while traveling during the morning rush hour in May 2011. Compared with the 2002 survey, in-vehicle concentrations were substantially lower in 2011, except for formaldehyde in microbuses (35% higher than in 2002). The reductions were 17-42% (except microbuses), 25-44%, 41-61%, 43-61%, 71-79%, 80-91%, and 79-93% for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, and o-xylene, respectively. These reductions are considered to be the outcome of some of the actions in the ProAire2002-2010 program. In some microbuses, use of liquid petroleum gas may have increased in-vehicle formaldehyde concentrations. The reduction in predicted excess cancer incidence of commuters because of ProAire2002-2010 was estimated to be 1.4 cases/yr. In addition, if every microbus commuter changed their transport mode to bus, metro, or metrobus in the future, the estimated excess cancer incidence of commuters could be further decreased from 6.4 to 0.88-2.2 cases/year.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Air Pollution / analysis*
  • Cities
  • Environmental Exposure / prevention & control
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Health Promotion / methods
  • Humans
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Vehicle Emissions / analysis*
  • Vehicle Emissions / prevention & control*
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / analysis*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Vehicle Emissions
  • Volatile Organic Compounds