Carbon Monoxide Exposures to Los Angeles Area Commuters

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Abstract
Carbon monoxide exposures to commuters were simulated in a 5-day study in Los Angeles County. Exposures were determined by measuring CO in three vehicles as they traveled typical commuter routes. The data collected during this study include measurements of vehicle speed and CO measurements in the interior and exterior of the three vehicles during the morning and evening peak traffic periods. In addition, hourly averaged CO measurements were taken from eight south coastal Air Quality Management District fixed-site monitoring stations and six California Department of Transportation vans in the proximity of the commuter routes. These data were used to investigate the relationship of CO exposures to meteorological parameters, fixed-site monitors, and traffic conditions. The average ratio of interior CO concentrations to exterior CO concentrations was 0.92. Concentrations inside and outside the vehicles remained about the same even when the vehicles were driven with vents closed and windows up. Smoking was not permitted in the vehicles during the study. The average ratio of the hour average CO concentrations in the vehicles to fixed-site measurements was 3.9. However, this ratio decreases with increasing ambient CO levels. Although CO levels in the vehicles frequently exceeded 40 ppm and sometimes exceeded 60 ppm, the hour average CO concentrations did not exceed 35 ppm. Slow moving congested traffic is associated with higher CO levels in the vehicles than a high volume of traffic moving at a steady speed.

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