RISUD Distinguished Lecture - How Bad is the Air Quality in Underground Subway Systems and What is the Health Risk to Commuters and Transit Workers? A Global View

Subways are becoming more and more ubiquitous around the world. Globally, there are ~180 metropolitan train systems in 178 cities and these transit systems move over 160 million people a day. The relative low-cost of these systems is important for less economically advantaged individuals and those who travel long distances for work. Importantly, public transportation helps to effectively minimize urban energy footprints by reducing personal vehicle traffic. Outdoor air quality is thus improved by a reduction in fossil fuel emissions from cars and trucks. These financial and environmental benefits are offset, however, by poor air quality documented in underground subway stations and cars. Given that: 1) commuters can spend ~30 min to 2 hours (round trip); and 2) workers spend several hours underground each day, it is imperative that exposure and health assessments are performed in these unique environments. Poor air quality has been documented in a number of subway systems throughout the world, and our research team sought to expand these exposure assessment efforts throughout the 5 major subway systems in Northeastern U.S. and begin health studies on subway commuters in NYC.