Public bus and taxicab drivers' exposure to aromatic work-time volatile organic compounds

Information on the work-time exposure of public bus and taxicab drivers to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may be a critical factor in exploring the association between occupational exposure and health effects. Accordingly, this study evaluated the work-time VOC exposure of public bus and taxicab drivers by measurement of six selected aromatic VOC concentrations in the personal air of public bus and taxicab drivers during winter and summer. Two groups of five public bus drivers (smokers and nonsmokers) and two groups of five taxicab drivers (smokers and nonsmokers) were recruited for the study. The taxicab drivers were found to be exposed to higher aromatic compound levels than the bus drivers during their daily work time. The personal exposure of the bus and taxicab drivers was influenced by whether or not they smoked plus the season. It was also established that the potential exposure of bus drivers to aromatic VOCs did not exceed that of an unemployed reference group, whereas the potential exposure of taxicab drivers did. Meanwhile, based on comparison of the calculated in-vehicle concentrations with those from a previous study, the VOC levels inside public buses and taxicabs were found to be lower than those inside automobiles. (C) 2001 Academic Press.