Student assessment of PM2.5 concentration at ECU Transit bus stops using a low-cost aerosol monitor
Author
Murray, John William
Abstract
Particulate matter 2.5 µm and smaller (PM2.5 or fine particles) in high concentrations is known to cause respiratory issues, including irritation of the airways, sneezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Due to incredibly small particle size, airborne PM2.5 travels deeper into the lungs through inhalation than other larger particles. Long-term exposure to this fine particulate matter can have a much more severe effect on individuals with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and heart disease, potentially causing a worsening of the condition, hospitalization, and even death. A primary source of PM2.5 is the exhaust and emissions from cars, trucks, and buses. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has in place a daily PM2.5 standard of 35 µg/m3. College students are not typically regarded as a population that experiences significant PM2.5 exposure, but emissions from East Carolina University’s transit bus system likely create zones of high PM2.5 concentration at ECU bus stops. To carry out the research study, seven students who regularly use the ECU Transit system were selected to use a low-cost personal aerosol monitor each time they arrived at a campus bus stop. These small, lightweight sensors measured airborne PM2.5 concentration in the student’s personal breathing zone. Student participants repeated this procedure each time they were at an ECU Transit-served bus stop over the course of four weeks. PM2.5 concentration data was retrieved remotely from the monitors daily and compared with average EPA measurements for Pitt County, as well as with measurements from a reference instrument, the ADR-1500, located in Greenville. This methodology allowed for the identification of higher-than-average concentration zones at ECU Transit bus stops compared to average measurements for Pitt County. By increasing access to microenvironmental data, this project will contribute to public health efforts of protection and prevention by allowing individuals to measure and understand their exposure to PM2.5 at the bus stop. This project will aid commuters, especially those with pre-existing conditions who use public transportation, in making more informed health decisions and better protecting themselves against new or worsening respiratory conditions.
Date
2023-04-26
Citation:
APA:
Murray, John William.
(April 2023).
Student assessment of PM2.5 concentration at ECU Transit bus stops using a low-cost aerosol monitor
(Honors Thesis, East Carolina University). Retrieved from the Scholarship.
(http://hdl.handle.net/10342/13085.)
MLA:
Murray, John William.
Student assessment of PM2.5 concentration at ECU Transit bus stops using a low-cost aerosol monitor.
Honors Thesis. East Carolina University,
April 2023. The Scholarship.
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/13085.
June 30, 2024.
Chicago:
Murray, John William,
“Student assessment of PM2.5 concentration at ECU Transit bus stops using a low-cost aerosol monitor”
(Honors Thesis., East Carolina University,
April 2023).
AMA:
Murray, John William.
Student assessment of PM2.5 concentration at ECU Transit bus stops using a low-cost aerosol monitor
[Honors Thesis]. Greenville, NC: East Carolina University;
April 2023.
Collections
Publisher
East Carolina University