Personal Exposure to PM10 among Taxi Drivers in Iran

A study was carried out over 30 days in one calendar year over six routes in Sari city centre to measure personal exposures to PM10 in the breathing zone of taxi drivers. The average personal exposure to PM10 was higher in autumn and winter than in spring and summer. Exposures to PM10 during heavy traffic flow in the afternoon time, were considerably higher than those in morning and evening. The numbers of passengers in the taxi, taxi model and indoor taxi temperature had a significant correlation with the exposure to PM10. Penetration of particulate matter from ambient sources and/or re-suspended particles from the surfaces because of poor maintenance, were shown to be the most probable factors for taxi drivers’ personal exposure to PM10.