Particulate matter levels and comfort conditions in the trains and platforms of the Athens underground metro

Nikolaos Barmparesos; Vasiliki D. Assimakopoulos; Margarita Niki Assimakopoulos; Evangelia Tsairidi; Nikolaos Barmparesos; Vasiliki D. Assimakopoulos; Margarita Niki Assimakopoulos; Evangelia Tsairidi

doi:10.3934/environsci.2016.2.199

AIMS Environmental Science

2016, Volume 3, Issue 2: 199-219. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2016.2.199

Previous Article Next Article

Research article Special Issues

Particulate matter levels and comfort conditions in the trains and platforms of the Athens underground metro

1.
Department of Applied Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Athens, Building Physics 5, University Campus, 157 84 Athens, Greece
2.
Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Lofos Koufou, 152 36 Athens, Greece

Received: 15 December 2015 Accepted: 23 March 2016 Published: 31 March 2016

Abstract
Full Text(HTML)
Download PDF

A study of indoor environmental quality inside the old (naturally ventilated) and new (air-conditioned) train cabins and platforms of four main stations of the Athens subway system (Attiko Metro), took place in different two-day measurements from June to August 2012. Portable instrumentation provided continuous measurements of particulate matter (PM₁₀, PM_2.5and PM₁), carbon dioxide (CO₂) along with temperature (T) and absolute humidity (AH). PM concentrations were significantly higher on the underground platforms of the network from 3 to 10 times, as compared to outdoor measurements. In particular, mean PM₁, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentrations at the deeper and most crowded station of Syntagma reached 18.7, 88.1 and 320.8 μg m⁻³ respectively. On the contrary, the ground level, open station of the Airport, showed values comparable to the outdoor (2, 6.4 and 34.4 μg m⁻³, respectively). All PM fractions were lower than the platforms inside the old and new train cabins while the air conditioned trains experienced lower particulate pollution levels. More specifically, mean PM₁, PM_2.5and PM₁₀concentrations were 5.5, 16.8and 58.3 μg m⁻³, respectively in new cabins while in the old they reached 10.3, 47.5 and 238.8 μg m⁻³. The PM_2.5/PM₁₀ and PM₁/PM_2.5 ratios did not exceed 0.33 on both platforms and trains verifying the dominance of crustal coarse particles originating from the train and ground materials. As expected CO₂ levels were higher inside the trains as compared to the platforms and in some cases surpassed the 1000 ppm limit during the hottest days of the experimental campaign. Temperature and humidity remained relatively stable on the platforms, whereas measurements inside the cabins fluctuated, depending on the type of train and track locations. Correlations between measured PM along the routes to and from the Airport indicated covariance of concentrations along train cabins of the same direction.
- PM₁₀,
- PM_2.5,
- PM₁,
- Athens underground,
- indoor air quality,
- train cabins,
- transport microenvironment
Citation: Nikolaos Barmparesos, Vasiliki D. Assimakopoulos, Margarita Niki Assimakopoulos, Evangelia Tsairidi. Particulate matter levels and comfort conditions in the trains and platforms of the Athens underground metro[J]. AIMS Environmental Science, 2016, 3(2): 199-219. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2016.2.199

Related Papers:

Abstract

A study of indoor environmental quality inside the old (naturally ventilated) and new (air-conditioned) train cabins and platforms of four main stations of the Athens subway system (Attiko Metro), took place in different two-day measurements from June to August 2012. Portable instrumentation provided continuous measurements of particulate matter (PM₁₀, PM_2.5and PM₁), carbon dioxide (CO₂) along with temperature (T) and absolute humidity (AH). PM concentrations were significantly higher on the underground platforms of the network from 3 to 10 times, as compared to outdoor measurements. In particular, mean PM₁, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentrations at the deeper and most crowded station of Syntagma reached 18.7, 88.1 and 320.8 μg m⁻³ respectively. On the contrary, the ground level, open station of the Airport, showed values comparable to the outdoor (2, 6.4 and 34.4 μg m⁻³, respectively). All PM fractions were lower than the platforms inside the old and new train cabins while the air conditioned trains experienced lower particulate pollution levels. More specifically, mean PM₁, PM_2.5and PM₁₀concentrations were 5.5, 16.8and 58.3 μg m⁻³, respectively in new cabins while in the old they reached 10.3, 47.5 and 238.8 μg m⁻³. The PM_2.5/PM₁₀ and PM₁/PM_2.5 ratios did not exceed 0.33 on both platforms and trains verifying the dominance of crustal coarse particles originating from the train and ground materials. As expected CO₂ levels were higher inside the trains as compared to the platforms and in some cases surpassed the 1000 ppm limit during the hottest days of the experimental campaign. Temperature and humidity remained relatively stable on the platforms, whereas measurements inside the cabins fluctuated, depending on the type of train and track locations. Correlations between measured PM along the routes to and from the Airport indicated covariance of concentrations along train cabins of the same direction.

References

[1]	Aarnio P, Yli-Tuomia T, Kousab A, et al. (2005) The concentrations and composition of and exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) in the Helsinki subway system. Atmos Environ 39: 5059-5066.
[2]	Martins V, Moreno T, Minguillón MC, et al. (2015) Exposure to airborne particulate matter in the subway system. Sci Total Environ 511: 711-722. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.12.013
[3]	Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Gómez-Perales JE, Colvile RN (2007) Levels of particulate air pollution, its elemental composition, determinants and health effects in metro systems. Atmos Environ 41: 7995-8006. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.08.002
[4]	Pope CA, Dockery DW (2006) Health Effects of Fine Particulate Air Pollution: Lines that Connect. J Air and Waste Manage 56: 709-742. doi: 10.1080/10473289.2006.10464485
[5]	Penttinen P, Timonen KL, Tiittanen P, et al. (2001) Ultrafine Particles in Urban Air and Respiratory Health among Adult Asthmatics. Eur Respir J 17: 428-435. doi: 10.1183/09031936.01.17304280
[6]	Von Klot S, Wolke G, Tuch T, et al. (2002) Increased Asthma Medication Use in Association with Ambient Fine and Ultrafine Particles. Eur Respir J 20: 691-702. doi: 10.1183/09031936.02.01402001
[7]	Delfino R, Sioutas C, Malik S, (2005) Potential Role of Ultrafine Particles in Associations between Airborne Particle Mass and Cardiovascular Health. Environ Health Perspect 113: 934-946. doi: 10.1289/ehp.7938
[8]	Li TT, Bai YH, Liu ZR, et al. (2007) In-train air quality assessment of the railway transit system in Beijing: a note. Transport Res (Part D) 12: 64-67.
[9]	Cheng YH, Lin YL, Liu CC, et al. (2008) Levels of PM10 and PM2.5 in Taipei Rapid Transit System. Atmos Environ 42: 7242-7249.
[10]	Johansson C, Johansson PA, (2003) Particulate matter in the underground of Stockholm. Atmos Environ 37: 3-9.
[11]	Seaton A, Cherrie J, Dennekamp M, et al. (2005) The London Underground: dust and hazards to health. Occup Environ Med 62: 355-362. doi: 10.1136/oem.2004.014332
[12]	Liu Y, Chen R, Shen X, et al. (2004) Wintertime indoor air levels of PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and PM₁ at public places and their contributions to TSP. Environ Int 30: 189-197.
[13]	Murruni LG, Solanes V, Debray M, et al. (2009) Concentrations and elemental composition of particulate matter in the Buenos Aires underground system. Atmos Environ 43: 4577-4583. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.06.025
[14]	Adams HS, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ, Colvile RN (2001) Determinants of fine particle (PM_2.5) personal exposure levels in transport microenvironments, London, UK. Atmos Environ 35: 4557-4566.
[15]	Karlsson HL, Nilsson L, Möller L (2005) Subway particles are more genotoxic than street particles and induce oxidative stress in cultured human lung cells. Chem Res Toxicol 18: 19-23. doi: 10.1021/tx049723c
[16]	Salma I, Weidinger T, Maenhaut W, (2007) Time-resolved mass concentration, composition and sources of aerosol particles in a metropolitan underground railway station. Atmos Environ 41: 8391-8405. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.06.017
[17]	Colombi C, Angius S, Gianelle V, et al. (2013) Particulate matter concentrations, physical characteristics and elemental composition in the Milan underground transport system. Atmos Environ 70: 166-178. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2013.01.035
[18]	Bukowiecki N, Gehrig R, Hill M, et al. (2007) Iron, manganese and copper emitted by cargo and passenger trains in Zürich (Switzerland): Size-segregated mass concentrations in ambient air. Atmos Environ 41: 878-889. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2006.07.045
[19]	Mugica-Álvarez V, Figueroa-Lara J, Romero-Romo M, et al. (2012) Concentrations and properties of airborne particles in the Mexico City subway system. Atmos Environ 49: 284-293. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.11.038
[20]	Kim KY, Kim YS, Roh YM, et al. (2008) Spatial distribution of particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) in Seoul Metropolitan Subway stations. J Hazard Mater 154: 440-443.
[21]	Jung HJ, Kim B, Ryu J, et al. (2010) Source identification of particulate matter collected at underground subway stations in Seoul, Korea using quantitative single-particle analysis. Atmos Environ 44: 2287-2293. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2010.04.003
[22]	Jung MH, Kim HR, Park YJ, et al. (2012) Genotoxic effects and oxidative stress induced by organic extracts of particulate matter (PM₁₀) collected from a subway tunnel in Seoul, Korea. Mutation Research 749: 39-47. doi: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2012.08.002
[23]	Sahin Ü, Onat B, Stakeeva B, et al. (2012) PM₁₀ concentrations and the size distribution of Cu and Fe-containing particles in Istanbul’s subway system. Transport Res (Part D) 17: 48-53.
[24]	Querol X, Moreno T, Karanasiou A, et al. (2012) Variability of levels and composition of PM10 and PM2.5 in the Barcelona metro system. Atmos Chem Phys 12: 5055-5076.
[25]	Moreno T, Pérez N, Reche C, et al. (2014) Subway platform air quality: assessing the influences of tunnel ventilation, train piston effect and station design. Atmos Environ 92: 461-468. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.04.043
[26]	Martins V, Moreno T, Mendes L, et al. (2016) Factors controlling air quality in different European subway systems. Environ Res 146: 35-46. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.12.007
[27]	Ripanucci G, Grana M, Vicentini L, et al. (2006) Dust in the railway tunnels of an Italian town. J Occup Environ Hyg 3: 16-25. doi: 10.1080/15459620500444004
[28]	Braniš M. (2006) The contribution of ambient sources to particulate pollution in spaces and trains of the Prague underground transport system. Atmos Environ 40: 348-356.
[29]	Fromme H, Oddoy A, Piloty M, et al. (1998) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PHA) and diesel engine emission (elemental carbon) inside a car and a subway train. Sci Total Environ217: 165-173.
[30]	Grass D, Ross JM, Farnosh F, et al. (2010) Airborne particulate metals in the New York City subway: A pilot study to assess the potential for health impacts. Environ Res 110: 1-11.
[31]	Chillrud SN, Grass D, Ross JM, et al. (2005) Steel dust in the New York City subway system as a source of manganese, chromium, and iron exposures for transit workers. J Urban Health 82: 33-42.
[32]	Boudia N, Halley R, Kennedy G, et al. (2006) Manganese concentrations in the air of the Montreal (Canada) subway in relation to surface automobile traffic density. Sci Total Environ366:143-147.
[33]	Raout JC, Chazette P, Fortain A (2009) Link between aerosol optical, microphysical and chemical measurements in an underground railway station in Paris. Atmos Environ 43: 860-868. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2008.10.038
[34]	Fujii RK, Oyola P, Pereira JCR, et al. (2007) Air pollution levels in two São Paulo subway stations. Highway and Urban Environment 12: 181-190.
[35]	Kam W, Cheung K, Daher N, et al. (2012) Particulate matter (PM) concentrations in underground and ground-level rail systems of the Los Angeles Metro. Atmos Environ 45: 1506-1516.
[36]	Yang F, Kaul D, Wong KC, et al. (2015) Heterogeneity of passenger exposure to air pollutants in public transport microenvironments. Atmos Environ 109: 42-51.
[37]	Assimakopoulos MN, Dounis A, Spanou A, et al. (2013) Indoor air quality in a metropolitan area metro using fuzzy logic assessment system. Sci Total Environ 449: 461-469.
[38]	Grivas G, Chaloulakou A, Kassomenos P (2008) An overview of the PM10 pollution problem, in the Metropolitan Area of Athens, Greece. Assessment of controlling factors and potential impact of long range transport. Sci Total Environ 389: 165-177.
[39]	Pateraki S, Assimakopoulos VD, Maggos T, et al. (2013) Particulate matter pollution over a Mediterranean urban area. Sci Total Environ 463-464: 508-524.
[40]	Founda D, Giannakopoulos C, (2009) The exceptionally hot summer of 2007 in Athens, Greece—A typical summer in the future climate? Global Planet Change 67: 227-236. doi: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2009.03.013
[41]	Official Website of the Attiko Metro S.A. (2012) Available from: http://www.ametro.gr/page/default.asp?id=4&la=2
[42]	Official Website of the National Observatory of Athens (2012) Available from: http://www.noa.gr/index.php?lang=en
[43]	Official Website of the Greek Ministry of Environment & Energy (2012) Available from: http://www.ypeka.gr/Default.aspx?tabid=37&locale=en-US&language=el-GR
[44]	Official Website of the Athens International Airport (El.Venizelos) (2012) Available from: https://www.aia.gr/company-and-business/environment/airport-and-environment/
[45]	Hall SJ, Learned J, Ruddell B, et al. (2016) Convergence of microclimate in residential landscapes across diverse cities in the United States. Landscape Ecol 31: 101-117. doi: 10.1007/s10980-015-0297-y

Reader Comments

your name:*

Email:*
© 2016 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)