Estimación de la exposición personal a concentraciones de PM2.5, Plomo y Cromo en usuarios del sistema de autobús Transmilenio de Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

Currently personal exposure to air pollutants has become highly relevant in the world. Public transport systems are one of the most relevant emission sources, where users of this form of transport and those who are located near the road corridors are exposed to substances such as particulate matter and heavy metals that can affect their health in a way acute or chronic. Inside the buses there is a proportion of emissions from the exhaust that are introduced into the interior of the exhaust, exposing the users to high levels of contamination in closed spaces for short periods of time. Taking this scenario into account, this research aims to establish the concentrations of PM2.5, lead and chromium to which passengers using the Transmilenio rapid transit bus (BTR) system in Bogotá are exposed, in addition to evaluating an acute effect by using the heart rate recorded in a user of the system. To fulfill the proposed objective, two trunks of the Transmilenio system were selected, in order to calculate the concentrations of pollutants in a joint that stops at all two-way stations (Portal Norte Calle 170 to Héroes station and Héroes station to Avenida Jiménez) between the hours of 8 to 10 am, for a total of 27 days per round trip, for a total of 54 days between the two trunks. For the quantification of PM2.5 concentrations, a real-time PM2.5 measurement equipment will be used, while to establish concentrations of heavy metals such as lead and chromium, a personal pump will be available whose filters collect this type of elements. , for further analysis. In parallel, as a biological marker of non-invasive exposure, heart rate will be measured, correlating it with the values ​​obtained with the PM2.5 measurement equipment in real time. The teams will be transported by an investigator who will carry out the journey during the outward and return journeys on each trunk. At the end of the study, a concentration map will be obtained that shows the concentrations of PM2.5 within the articles, in addition to estimating the toxicological risk derived from exposure to PM2.5, lead and chromium in users of the Transmilenio system. The results will be disseminated to the Secretary of Health and Environment of Bogotá, in order to be an important input for the development of public policies aimed at improving the quality of life of users who make daily use of this transportation system.