Carbon Dioxide Concentrations and Temperatures within Tour Buses under Real-Time Traffic Conditions

Chun-Fu Chiu; Ming-Hung Chen; Feng-Hsiang Chang

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125117

Carbon Dioxide Concentrations and Temperatures within Tour Buses under Real-Time Traffic Conditions

PLoS One. 2015 Apr 29;10(4):e0125117. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125117. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Chun-Fu Chiu¹, Ming-Hung Chen², Feng-Hsiang Chang³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Tourism Affairs, Tzu Hui Institute of Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan (R.O.C.); Department of Tropical Agriculture and International Cooperation, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
² Department of Recreational Sport and Health Promotion, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
³ Department of Leisure, Recreation and Tourism Management, Tzu Hui Institute of Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan (R.O.C.).

Abstract

This study monitored the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and temperatures of three 43-seat tour buses with high-passenger capacities in a course of a three-day, two-night school excursion. Results showed that both driver zones and passenger zones of the tour buses achieved maximum CO2 concentrations of more than 3000 ppm, and maximum daily average concentrations of 2510.6 and 2646.9 ppm, respectively. The findings confirmed that the CO2 concentrations detected in the tour buses exceeded the indoor air quality standard of Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration (8 hr-CO2: 1000 ppm) and the air quality guideline of Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (1 hr-CO2: 2500 ppm for Level 1 for buses). Observations also showed that high-capacity tour bus cabins with air conditioning system operating in recirculation mode are severely lacking in air exchange rate, which may negatively impact transportation safety. Moreover, the passenger zones were able to maintain a temperature of between 20 and 25°C during travel, which effectively suppresses the dispersion of volatile organic compounds. Finally, the authors suggest that in the journey, increasing the ventilation frequency of tour bus cabin, which is very beneficial to maintain the travel safety and enhance the quality of travel.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air Pollution / analysis*
Automobiles*
Carbon Dioxide / analysis*
Environmental Monitoring / methods*
Hong Kong
Humans
Taiwan
Vehicle Emissions / analysis*

Substances

Vehicle Emissions
Carbon Dioxide

Grants and funding

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Tzu Hui Institute of Technology Research Program (Grant No. THIT-103010). They also thank Mr. Wen-Chin Li, engineer of JS Environmental Technology and Energy Saving Co., Ltd., for his assistance in monitoring.