Traffic-related fine and ultrafine particle exposures of professional drivers and illness : An opportunity to better link exposure science and epidemiology to address an occupational hazard?

摘要

Exposures to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) can be particularly high in transport microenvironments (i.e.udin and around vehicles) despite the short durations typically spent there. There is a mounting body ofudevidence that suggests that this is especially true for fine (b2.5 μm) and ultrafine (b100 nm, UF) particles.udProfessional drivers, who spend extended periods of time in transport microenvironments due to their job,udmay incur exposures markedly higher than already elevated non-occupational exposures. Numerous epidemiologicaludstudies have shown a raised incidence of adverse health outcomes among professional drivers,udand exposure to TRAP has been suggested as one of the possible causal factors. Despite this, data describingudthe range and determinants of occupational exposures to fine and UF particles are largely conspicuous inudtheir absence. Such information could strengthen attempts to define the aetiology of professional drivers' illnessesudas it relates to traffic combustion-derived particles.udIn this article, we suggest that the drivers' occupational fine and UF particle exposures are an exemplar caseudwhere opportunities exist to better link exposure science and epidemiology in addressing questions of causality.udThe nature of the hazard is first introduced, followed by an overview of the health effects attributableudto exposures typical of transport microenvironments. Basic determinants of exposure and reduction strategiesudare also described, and finally the state of knowledge is briefly summarised along with an outline ofudthe main unanswered questions in the topic area.