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Sensitivity of BTEX pollution and health effects to traffic restrictions: A case study in an urban center of Tehran, Iran

Baghani, A. N ; Sharif University of Technology | 2024

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  1. Type of Document: Article
  2. DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2024.105281
  3. Publisher: 2024
  4. Abstract:
  5. This study reports a spatiotemporal characterization of BTEX concentrations in urban air of hotspots in Iran, specifically at the Bus Rapid Transit system in Tehran Traffic Zone. The average concentrations ± (SD) of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, and o-xylene in bus cabins versus bus stations were 8.75±4.21 vs. 8.74±2.61, 24.33±19.19 vs. 32.77 ± 13.59, 25.90 ± 10.63 vs. 28.74 ± 6.41, 43.71 ± 21.88 vs. 45.19 ± 15.60, and 33.46 ± 14.88 vs. 39.46 ± 10.57 μg/m3, respectively. The toluene to benzene ratios in bus cabins and bus stations ranged from 2.84 to 2.95 and from 2.20 to 5.55, respectively, indicating that traffic, bus, and stationary point source emissions were the primary source of BTEX. The average lifetime cancer risks (LTCRs) of benzene for bus cabins and bus stations along various routes ranged from 3.08 × 10−5 to 7.07×10−5 and from 4.58 × 10−5 to 5.42 × 10−5, respectively, surpassing guideline values by EPA and WHO. Target pollutant concentrations increased on non-working days due to fewer traffic restrictions imposed by the city allowing people to travel without restrictions with their own vehicles. Hence, enforcing traffic restrictions on working and non-working days could reduce BTEX pollution, with implications for better public health as a result of reduced exposure to BTEX and associated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic effects. © 2024
  6. Keywords:
  7. BTEX ; Bus rapid transit ; Clean air ; Risk assessment ; Iran ; Tehran [Iran] ; Tehran [Tehran (PRV)] ; Air pollution ; Benzene ; Bus terminals ; Bus transportation ; Buses ; Health risks ; Light rail transit ; Mass transportation ; Rapid transit ; Urban transportation ; Bus stations ; Case-studies ; Health effects ; Pollution effects ; Risks assessments ; Traffic management ; Traffic restrictions ; Atmospheric pollution ; Cancer ; Health impact ; Health risk ; Pollution effect ; Sensitivity analysis ; Toluene ; Traffic emission ; Urban area
  8. Source: Sustainable Cities and Society ; Volume 104 , 2024 ; 22106707 (ISSN)
  9. URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210670724001094