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Commuters Exposed to Pollution in Car
If you live a relatively healthy life and don’t smoke, chances are the unhealthiest part of your day is your daily commute, researchers say. A study by University of Southern California (www.usc.edu) and the California Air Resources Board (www.arb.ca.gov) found that up to half of Los Angeles residents’ total exposure to harmful air pollutants occurs while people are traveling in their vehicles. Although the average driver in Los Angeles spends only about 6 percent of their day on the road, that period of time accounts for between 33 percent and 45 percent of their total exposure to diesel and ultrafine particles, the researchers say.
“Urban dwellers with long commutes are probably getting most of their UFP exposure while driving,” says Scott Fruin, assistant professor of environmental health at USC. Ultrafine particles are of concern because they tend to be more toxic than larger size particles, he says. “Shortening your commute and spending less time in the car will significantly reduce your total body burden of harmful pollutants.”
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