Sucking in the exhaust

[mstone]

@wheels&wings 127972 wrote:

As bicycle commuters, many of us breathe in quite a lot of fumes from motor vehicles. On the roads, we are stuck behind belching cars and trucks, while trails like the Custis run alongside heavily polluted highways. To what extent is this something you think about or care about?

Not at all–I’m more likely to die of heart disease than exhaust.

[Raymo853]

I do worry about it and also dislike it. While on the roadways right behind cars in dense traffic, I try to stay away from the actual exhaust pipes of larger engined vehicles. I do not fool myself that the air a meter away or so is significantly cleaner, but it is at least closer to ambient temperature and I hope, a little cleaner.

Now regarding being on trails like the Custis, I do not feel more impacted than I do in my house in Arlington or anyplace in the general Wash DC area. I see it all as “bad” without there being many places that are better, regardless if I am on a multi-use path, in my office, the woods of Fort Dupont, my car, my house, …….. which all attributes to my current focus to move out of the Wash DC area.

[lordofthemark]

There was a study done in the NL (will link later ) showing that cyclist exhaust exposure is significant, but drops dramatically with even modest seperation from motorized traffic. This is one more reason I prefer segregated infra, especially MUTs, and likely will even when 100% comfortable with taking the lane almost everywhere.

Okay, I cannot find a link to the NL study, but this summarizes some of the research

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/air-pollution-triggers-cyclists-heart-risks/

“Our findings suggest that short-term exposure to traffic may have a significant impact on cardiac autonomic function in healthy adults,” the scientists from Health Canada, Environment Canada and the University of Ottawa wrote in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

The study does not suggest that bikers would be better off driving, experts say. Rather, the findings intensify the scrutiny on cyclists’ pollution exposure, and point to simple solutions for a cleaner ride, such as avoiding busy roads like 8th Avenue whenever possible.

…..

A 2010 study of cyclists in the Netherlands showed that hard-pedaling, deep-breathing cyclists on busy roads inhale more of this dirty air. In many cases, they also spend more time exposed to it compared to someone driving the same distance.

“Those things add up and they give cyclists that cycle in traffic a high exposure,” Brauer said.

But whether that exposure ups a cyclist’s risk for heart or breathing problems has been less well established. One small study of Netherlands cyclists found a weak link between exposure to ultrafine particles and soot and airway inflammation.

…..

A study of bike lanes in Portland, Ore., showed that lanes separated by planters, not just by white paint, actually decreased cyclists’ air pollution exposure. A Belgian study of traffic pollution found that cycling as little as several feet off the road gave measurable differences in exposure.

[lordofthemark]

Ah, I found it

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920084/

Conclusions
On average, the estimated health benefits of cycling were substantially larger than the risks relative to car driving for individuals shifting their mode of transport.

This includes the air pollution exposure, as well as other risks.

…..

The actual risk may be smaller because cyclists could more easily choose a low-traffic route. The substantial influence of route has been documented in various monitoring and modeling studies (Adams et al. 2001; Hertel et al. 2008; Kingham et al. 1998; Strak et al. 2010). A study in Utrecht found 59% higher UFP exposure for cyclists along a high-traffic route compared with a low-traffic route (Strak et al. 2010). Walking close to the curb in London greatly increased personal exposures (Kaur et al. 2005). For cyclists, position on the road is likely important as well, because it determines distance to motorized traffic emissions. Urban planning may also contribute by separating cycle lanes from heavily trafficked roads

[elbows]

Since you’re grateful for my thoughts 😮 it’s something I think about a lot both on grounds of fairness/externalities and the fact I have low-level asthma. I guess it only impacts my route selection minimally. I often wonder if there is a mechanism to report egregious autos – the ones belching noxious clouds of smoke. Also, where I’m not riding on streets, I’m often distressed by the amount of pollutants I inhale from leaf blowers and gas-powered mowers. If I knew they were working, I would try to avoid such areas.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/how-bad-for-the-environment-are-gas-powered-leaf-blowers/2013/09/16/8eed7b9a-18bb-11e3-a628-7e6dde8f889d_story.html
The takeaway is that if you fret about the air pollution coming out of your car’s tailpipe, you should avoid gas-powered leaf blowers. While it’s true that their contribution to overall air pollution is modest, that’s largely because so few people rely on them. As their usage grows, so will the environmental effects.

[americancyclo]

@elbows 127995 wrote:

Also, where I’m not riding on streets, I’m often distressed by the amount of pollutants I inhale from leaf blowers and gas-powered mowers. If I knew they were working, I would try to avoid such areas.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/how-bad-for-the-environment-are-gas-powered-leaf-blowers/2013/09/16/8eed7b9a-18bb-11e3-a628-7e6dde8f889d_story.html
The takeaway is that if you fret about the air pollution coming out of your car’s tailpipe, you should avoid gas-powered leaf blowers. While it’s true that their contribution to overall air pollution is modest, that’s largely because so few people rely on them. As their usage grows, so will the environmental effects.

OMG those are the worst. Get a rake!

[dplasters]

This is a conflicting study that actually had pedestrians and cyclist breathing in less pollution.

They don’t seem to account for a cyclist who is working hard and so is taking in more air though. I don’t really worry about it. Even the studies that have been done tend to be from Europe where diesel NOx is a much bigger pollutant and has real effects on lungs. Gas emission is heating us up, but less directly effects the lungs (I am not a scientist of any kind).

The study does bring up the point that although it might smell better, or not have the immediate “Oh God, really warm air, this is full of awfulness” that you have on a bike. When you are in a vehicle stuck behind another vehicle etc, you are actually just sitting in a metal box full of the fumes that are outside with no way for them to dissipate (wind). Vehicle air filters do nothing to take these pollutants out.

So nope, I just ignore it. although there is a special place in my heart for the Metro/Commuter buses that run on natural gas. Oh man, getting tucked in behind one on a cold January morning is so wonderful.

[worktheweb]

I actually changed my commuting route in the evenings to avoid the buses and their exhaust on Madison Drive. On particularly bad days I’d leave there with my lungs almost aching and I’d frequently feel the grit of the diesel particulates between my teeth. I can’t imagine that was doing anything good for my health. The problem is all but gone for the WMATA buses with their natural gas, but the tour buses from out of town are quite unpleasant.

I remember a study (perhaps one of the ones mentioned above) that raised the alarm about the higher level of respiration done during activity and a potential for greater harm from particulates. Particulates are extra nasty because the really small ones can go directly into your blood stream and cause all kinds of harm. Aside from re-routing around the worst of it, it hasn’t stopped me from riding. If I wasn’t getting the exercise from all my biking, I’d be in significantly worse health. It would be nice if buses and trucks could be made to lower their emissions.

[vvill]

I used to worry about it more than I do now. I have a bunch of disposable charcoal activated pollution masks similar to those you’d see being worn in Asia, but I don’t really use them anymore. I also have a Respro mask (which I’ve seen get more usage in London, though I’ve seen the occasional DC commuter with one).

I would say air quality does factor into my route choice although not as much as car traffic/busy streets – and it tends to be the same thing, actually; I try to stick to bike paths more than I used to, and I consider them pollution-free enough to not worry compared to routes with motor vehicles. I do try to avoid getting stuck behind a bus/truck/etc. same as Raymo mentioned.

I used to also rein in my riding on “red” air quality index days. Now my commuting has been reduced enough that I don’t worry about it.

[mstone]

I’ll also remind the older crowd about how much worse it used to be, following a car. For all the complaining about EPA, it’s a night and day difference. I’d like to think the situation will only improve as more old cars are taken off the road and replaced by cars with pesky regulations that happen to pollute less.

[KWL]

mstone;128042 wrote:

i’ll also remind the older crowd about how much worse it used to be, following a car. For all the complaining about epa, it’s a night and day difference. I’d like to think the situation will only improve as more old cars and VW diesels are taken off the road and replaced by cars with pesky regulations that happen to pollute less.

fify.

[TwoWheelsDC]

There are studies that show children who grow up close to busy roads have higher incidence of asthma and other respiratory issues, so the effect isn’t inconsequential. Although I’d wager the length of exposure is the key variable in this discussion.

[dplasters]

I own a 2010 VW Golf TDI

The good news is that I only put about 2,500 miles a year on it. Sorry everyone. My other car is a bike I put about 3,500 miles a year on?

[GovernorSilver]

I don’t smell more fumes than I did before i started riding on Washington St. through Old Town Alexandria during rush hour, even when I’m waiting behind a bus. A lot of public transit buses in this area use CNG or some other pollution reducing technology.

Today, however, I did get a good whiff of smelly fumes from the school bus that was in front of me as I waited to turn left from Huntington to Rt. 1 to access the MUP leading to Washington St/MVT.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@TwoWheelsDC 128053 wrote:

There are studies that show children who grow up close to busy roads have higher incidence of asthma and other respiratory issues, so the effect isn’t inconsequential. Although I’d wager the length of exposure is the key variable in this discussion.

But is the asthma increase the result of the exhaust or the result of parental response to living near busy roads, such as keeping windows closed and staying indoors more?

[Author]

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