In vivo detection of mutagenic effects of diesel exhaust by short-term mammalian bioassays

Male Chinese hamsters were exposed to diesel exhaust and clean air for six months at the Center Hill Facility of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Cincinnati, Ohio. The animals were kept in specially constructed inhalation chambers and exposed to clean air or diesel exhaust for eight hours daily. The animals were sacrificed and slides prepared to study the mutagenic effects of diesel exhaust by four in vivo short term mammalian bioassays. Sperm morphology bioassay revealed a 2.67-fold increase in sperm abnormalities in the animals exposed to diesel exhaust as compared to those exposed to fresh air. Micronucleus bioassay revealed a 50% increase in the number of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes obtained from animals exposed to diesel exhuast. However, no increase in sister chromatid exchange or chromosomal abnormalities was observed in bone marrow cells of animals treated with diesel exhaust. During these studies a decrease in mitotic index was observed in animals treated with diesel exhaust.     

Assessment of the genotoxicity of 137Cs radiation using Vicia-micronucleus, Tradescantia-micronucleus and Tradescantia-stamen-hair mutation bioassays

Since the middle of the 20th century, ionizing radiations from radioactive isotopes including 137Cs have been investigated to determine their genotoxic impact on living organisms. The present study was designed to compare the effectiveness of three plant bioassays to assess DNA damage induced by low doses of 137Cs: Vicia-micronucleus test (Vicia-MCN), Tradescantia-micronucleus test (Trad-MCN) and Tradescantia-stamen-hair mutation test (Trad-SH) were used. Vicia faba (broad bean) and Tradescantia clone 4430 (spiderwort) were exposed to 137Cs according to different scenarios: external and internal (contamination) irradiations. Experiments were conducted with various levels of radioactivity in solution or in soil, using solid or liquid 137Cs sources. The three bioassays showed different sensitivities to the treatments. Trad-MCN appeared to be the most sensitive test (significative response from 1.5 kBq/200 ml after 30 h of contamination). Moreover, at comparable doses, internal irradiations led to larger effects for the three bioassays. These bioassays are effective tests for assessing the genotoxic effects of radioactive 137Cs pollution.     

Genetic biomonitoring of an urban population exposed to mutagenic airborne pollutants

Biomonitoring studies have increased as a consequence of risks and effects to human health on exposure to environmental contaminants, mainly air pollutants. Genetic biomarkers are useful tools for the early assessment of exposure to occupational and environmental pollution. The objective of the present study was to investigate genotoxic effects on people residing and/or working downwind from an oil refinery in southern Brazil and the mutagenic activity of airborne particulate matter (PM10). Samples of peripheral blood and buccal mucosa cells were evaluated using the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay) and the micronucleus (MN) assay, respectively. PM10 samples were collected in the target site and the organic matter extraced with dichloromethane was assessed for mutagenic activity in the Salmonella/microsome assay. The exposed group (n = 37) was compared to a reference group (n = 37) of subjects living in an urban area with limited traffic and industrial influence, located far from the main industrial areas. All PM10 organic extracts showed mutagenic positive responses and the effect decreased in the presence of S9 mix indicating that the predominant compounds present were direct-acting mutagens. The responses of YGs strains are consistent with aromatic amines and nitroarenes being present in the PM10 extracts. The group in the area under the influence of the oil refinery (exposed group) showed significantly higher DNA damage in lymphocytes than the reference group. The MN frequencies in buccal mucosa were very low for both groups and no difference between groups was observed. No association was found between age and tobacco smoking habit and level of DNA damages measured by the comet assay. The results indicate that the comet assay was a sensitive tool to detect DNA damage in subjects under the influence of an oil refinery, with marked genotoxic activity in the atmospheric environment.     

The evaluation of the air quality impact of an incinerator by using MM5-CMAQ-EMIMO modeling system: North of Spain case study

The use of sophisticated air pollution modeling systems to evaluate the impact of different industrial plant emissions is currently done in an extensive way. MM5-CMAQ (PSU/NCAR and EPA, USA) is one of the most applicable air quality modeling systems to evaluate those impacts. In this contribution we present the methodology and results obtained when applying the MM5-CMAQ air quality modeling system for evaluating the potential impact of an incinerator in San Sebastián (Basque Country, Spain). We have used the EMIMO (UPM, Spain) emission model to simulate the emissions from biogenic and anthropogenic sources including traffic and tertiary sector sources. The study includes the air quality impact of a highway located near the incinerator named A8 and 6 industrial plants which already exist. The impact study has been compared with the results obtained from this highway impact and the 6 industrial plants which are normally operating during the last 30 years. The system has been prepared to simulate also Cadmium, Arsenic, Nickel, Lead and Benzo(a)pyrene air quality impacts. The PCDD/F air concentrations have been determined for the 16 toxic dioxins and furans as determined in the bibliography. The criteria pollutants such as CO, NOx, SO(2), PM(10) and O(3) have also been determined according to the different EU Directives which limit the values of such a pollutants for different periods of time.     

Determination of organic micropollutants in rain water for laboratory screening of air quality in urban environment

Rain water may collect organic air pollutants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalate ester (PEs), pesticides, and polychrorinated biphenyls (PCBs), that could be present in air in consequence of different factors. The determination of these compounds in rain water samples consequently may be interesting for a first screening of air quality in urban and/or industrial areas. For this purpose, 3 areas of the city of Rieti (central Italy) were selected for rain water sampling: a) the city center, densely populated and with high road traffic; b) a suburban residential area; c) the industrial area, about 3 km out of the city center and along the state road. Wet-only precipitation collectors were used for sampling; solid-phase microextraction or liquid-liquid microextraction techniques followed by GC/MS determinations were applied for sample analysis. PCBs and pesticides were never found in the samples collected. On the contrary, some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phthalates were always found. Significant and seasonal differences in PAH levels were observed in the 3 different sampling areas, with higher values always found in the city center and during the winter period; on the contrary, PEs levels remained unchanged.     

南昌市环境空气污染时空变化特征及影响因素研究

选取2014~2017年南昌市不同时间尺度AQI及主要空气污染物数据，利用GIS技术、神经网络分析、后向轨迹模型及地统计分析方法，分析了南昌市环境空气污染时空变化特征及影响因素。结果表明，南昌市近年来空气质量总体变化不大，空气质量等级以良为主，占全年比例为57%~61%。但首要污染物变化较大，即PM2.5比例显著下降，NO2和O3比例显著上升，PM10变化不大。南昌市空气污染季节变化显著，冬春季空气质量较差，以PM10、PM2.5污染为主，夏季空气质量最好，以O3污染为主。空气污染周变化以周末及周一污染较重、周四污染最轻，说明南昌市空气污染除了与群众出行习惯有关，还存在其他影响因素。南昌市空气质量日变化呈双峰型（9:00~11:00和20:00~22:00），主要受上、下班高峰期带来的交通尾气影响。南昌市空气污染空间变化呈典型的“郊区-市区”分布，其中AQI、PM10、PM2.5、SO2、NO2、CO值均以市区较高、郊区较低，而O3的空间分布规律正好相反，这主要与城区NOx排放较多，O3易与其迅速反应而消耗有关。后向轨迹聚类分析结果表明，来自本地的短轨迹气团占比高，对PM2.5、PM10、NO2、O3的影响大。气象因素上，PM2.5、PM10、NO2受相对湿度影响较大，O3受温度影响较大。     

Airborne dissemination of bacteria from sewage treatment plants

During the last 5 yr, the air of sewage treatment plants was examined bacteriologically under different climatic conditions. Methods of examination were sedimentation on nutrient agar, membrane filtration and the use of an impinger. At each sampling site wind velocity and humidity of air were measured. In addition to colony counts, the presence of fecal indicators (E. coli, Clostridia), Salmonella, non-agglutinable cholera vibrios and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined. The results were as follows: The formation of mist above the sewage in aeration tanks was preferably observed during the winter season. Correspondingly, the bacteriological results were less favourable in winter-time; trickling filters are also capable of spreading bacteria into ambient air; E. coli could be found up to a distance of 300 m downwind from the aeration tanks, Salmonella up to a distance of 10 m; higher wind velocity resulted in a higher number of positive findings, sunshine diminished it, covering of the aeration tanks clearly resulted in a lower number of positive findings, parallel examinations performed at other sampling sites far from sewage treatment plants, such as underground stations, shops, or sports facilities revealed that the bacterial level at such sites was much lower than in the air of sewage treatment plants. Quantitative studies (Salmonella was taken as an example) revealed that the dissemination by air was low in relation to the Salmonella content of the sewage itself, so that the infectious dose was hardly attained by direct ingestion. Nevertheless, hygienic measures, such as hand washing, use of protecting clothes and avoidance of contact with foods in the open air should be performed in sewage treatment plants so that the infectious dose also cannot be indirectly reached. Beyond this, the possibility cannot be ruled out that conditions are quite different for other pathogens having much lower infectious doses.     

Exposure to hydrocarbon concentrations while commuting or exercising in Dublin

In Ireland, several studies have monitored the air pollution due to traffic in both urban and rural environments. However, few studies have attempted to quantify the relative exposure to traffic derived HC pollutants between different modes of commuter transport. In this study, the difference in pollution exposure between bus and cycling commuters on a route in Dublin was compared by sampling for five vehicle related hydrocarbons: benzene, 1,3-butadiene, acetylene, ethane and ethylene. Samples were collected during both morning and afternoon rush hour periods using a fixed speed pump to gain representative concentrations across the whole journey. Journey times were also measured, as were typical breathing rates in order to calculate the overall dose of pollutant inhaled on the journey. Results clearly picked up significantly higher pollutant concentrations in the bus compared to cycling and also revealed elevated concentrations on the congested side of the road compared to the side moving against the traffic. However, when respiration rates and travel times were taken into account to reveal the mass of pollutants inhaled over the course of a journey, the pattern was reversed, showing slightly enhanced levels of hydrocarbons for the cyclist compared to the bus passenger. In addition, the concentrations of these compounds (excluding ethane), were ascertained at playing pitches in the vicinity of a heavily trafficked suburban motorway and in Dublin city centre. Although the concentrations were relatively low at all sites, when breathing rates were taken into consideration, the average inhaled weights of pollutants were, on occasion, higher than those average values observed for both bus and bicycle commuters.     

贵阳市主城区空气质量指数时空分布特征

为了解贵阳市主城区空气质量指数的时间分布和空间分布特征，采用时间序列法和插值法统计分析了2013~2015年贵阳市9个空气自动监测点SO2、NO2、PM10、PM25、CO的监测数据。结果表明：2013~2015年期间，贵阳市主城区空气质量整体良好,优于Ⅱ级空气质量标准，IAQISO2、IAQINO2、IAQIPM10、IAQIPM25、IAQICO的年均值呈现降低趋势, 空气污染物得到一定的控制；季节变化和月变化分析表现出冬季空气质量最差，夏季最好的特征。春节半月ISO2、IAQINO2、IAQIPM10、IAQIPM25的均值好于冬季均值，反映了工业和交通污染源的主控作用。空间分布上，IAQISO2、IAQINO2、IAQIPM10、IAQIPM25、IAQICO呈现“市区高，郊区低”的分布特征，空气质量指数较高的区域集中在贵阳市主城区中部和东北部     

Changing air quality in Delhi,India: determinants,trends, and policy implications

Air pollution is a major environmental problem in urban areas worldwide. Delhi, the capital city of India, is no exception to the universal pattern of deteriorating urban air quality with concentration of pollutants being well above the recommended WHO levels. The magnitude and urgency of the problem as a global environmental issue needs a systematic understanding of the potential causes of pollution and their contribution to air quality. In the present study, ambient air quality data (1987–2006) of SO₂, NO₂, SPM, and RSPM were analyzed to asses the changing air quality in the study area and to evaluate the effect of measures taken to control it. The primary data were collected from 1,583 households to examine the relationship between outdoor and indoor pollution level. Based on the data, the current study concludes that despite the implementation of different pollution-controlling measures, the pollutants, especially the particulate pollutants, were well above the standard limits set by CPCB. Integration between technological and social approach of urban planning is required to mitigate and manage urban environmental problems in sustainable manner.     

Evaluation of genotoxic and non-genotoxic effects of organic air pollution using in vitro bioassays

In this study, organic extracts of total suspended particles (TSP) and the particulate matter (PM) with the size below 2.5 microm (PM(2.5)) combined with organic extracts of the gas phase (GP) collected at two urban and two background localities were analyzed with a bacterial genotoxicity test, SOS chromotest, and an in vitro test for the dioxin toxicity determination, using a modified cell-line of rat hepatoma H4IIE.luc. In addition, the samples of TSP and GP were analyzed for PAHs contents. The PAHs concentrations and both of the toxic activities at the urban localities were much higher than ones at the background localities. Predominantly, traffic was a source of the urban air pollution there which was also confirmed by the evaluation of portions of certain PAHs (BaP/BPE, PYR/BaP) at the localities. On the other hand, the background localities were apparently affected by a long-distance transport of the pollutants from urban and industrial centers. The results of the bioassays indicated potential health risks for the population exposed to the organic air pollutants, especially at the urban localities. Based on the collected samples, distribution of the organic pollutants with the toxic effects in the air was evaluated. The significant portion of the direct genotoxins was bound to the particles larger than 2.5 microm. On the contrary, the indirect genotoxins were bound predominantly to the particles with the size below 2.5 microm. However, in the urban air they may be also bound to the larger particles, as well. While the direct genotoxicity may be related with the presence of PAH-derivatives as well as some polar organic pollutants, the indirect genotoxicity is related with the detected carcinogenic PAHs. But besides the above specified pollutants it is also necessary to consider the presence of other toxic components of the complex organic air pollution mixture that may also show potential health risks. This study demonstrates application of the combination of the screening bioassays for the evaluation of organic air pollution and identification of its health risks.     

A CO2-controlled ventilation system

For buildings in which the emissions from people is the main source of pollution, the number of people is the limiting factor for air ventilation. When such buildings are not used at full capacity, the ventilation, and consequently the energy consumption, is unnecessarily high. A great deal of the energy could be saved if the ventilation system could be developed to adjust the air flow to the actual requirements. One possible system would allow the amount of CO₂ in the exhaust air to control the ventilation rate. To study if this principle is practicable and economic, a CO₂ indicator has been installed in an office building in Helsinki. The mixture of exterior air and recirculated air is adjusted so that the amount of CO₂ during working hours is kept on ca 700 ppm (μL/L). The equipment was used during winter 1981-82, and the variation of CO₂ and the exterior air flow has been registered. The proportion of CO₂ has also been measured locally in order to study occasional variations that may occur. The proportion of other pollutants in the room air has been studied simultaneously with a gas chromatograph. Different types of CO₂ indicators were used to study the efficiency of the control system. The successful results indicate that the system can be used in new constructions, as well as in existing buildings.     

Genotoxic biomonitoring study of population residing in pesticide contaminated regions in Göksu Delta: micronucleus, chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges

Pesticides are widely used throughout the world in agriculture to protect crops and in public health to control diseases. Nevertheless, exposure to pesticides represents a potential risk to humans. This paper describes a study of possible genetic damage in the people living in regions contaminated with complex mixture of pesticides in G?ksu Delta. In this study, used methods were chromosomal aberration (CA), sister chromatid exchange analysis (SCE) in the peripheral blood lymphocytes, and micronucleus (MN) assay in the buccal epithelial cells. In the present investigation, 32 affected subjects consist of 16 smoking and 16 non-smokings and an equal number of control subjects were assessed for genome damage. Micronucleus (MN), Broken egg (BE), Karyorrhexis (KR), Karyolysis (KL) and Binucleus (BN) frequencies were higher in affected subjects than in controls. Smoking had a statistically significant effect on the Micronucleus, Karyorrhexis and Binucleus frequencies for both the control and the exposed group. Also smoking and exposure affected the frequency of sister chromatid exchange and chromosomal aberrations compared with control groups.     

Tropical fruit trees as bioindicators of industrial air pollution in southeast Brazil

Psidium guajava L., Psidium cattleyanum Sabine and Mangifera indica L. were tested under field conditions as possible tropical bioindicators of industrial air pollution. The study was performed around the industrial complex of Cubat?o, SE Brazil, which comprises 23 industries, including fertilizer, cement, chemical, petrochemical, and steel plants, with 110 production units and 260 emission sources of pollutants. Saplings were exposed to environmental conditions during four periods of 16 weeks each (September 1994-September 1995), at four different sites in the coastal mountains near the industrial complex: the Valley of Pil?es River (VP), the reference area; the Valley of Mogi River (VM), with high contamination of particulate matter, fluorides (F), sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) compounds; Caminho do Mar (CM1, CM2), mainly affected by organic pollutants, S and N compounds, and secondary pollutants; and Paranapiacaba (PP), affected by secondary pollutants, such as ozone. M. indica did not adapt to the climatic conditions at the exposure sites. In the two Psidium species, the presence of visible symptoms, root/shoot ratio, foliar contents of F, S and N, amounts of ascorbate (AA) and water-soluble thiols (-SH), as well as peroxidase activity (POD) were determined. P. guajava showed higher foliar accumulation of F, S and N, more pronounced alterations of biochemical indicators, and less visible leaf injury than P. cattleyanum. P. guajava may be used as an accumulative indicator in tropical climates, while further studies will be needed before P. cattleyanum might be applied as a sensitive species in biomonitoring programs.     

Influence of atmospheric stability on the mass concentration and chemical composition of atmospheric particles: a case study in Rome, Italy

PM(10) concentration and chemical composition (ions and carbon compounds) at three sampling stations in Rome and in its surroundings was determined daily during a one-month field study, carried out during December 2003. PM concentration at the traffic station was considerably higher than at the urban background and semi-rural stations; elemental carbon was detected as one of the chemical components responsible for this increase. The difference in the concentration of sulphate and ammonium was negligible, as it was expected for secondary pollutants. A negative artefact in the determination of ammonium nitrate by means of heated automatic monitors was highlighted. The dilution properties of the lower atmosphere were traced by means of a natural radioactivity monitor. This parameter has been found to play an essential role in pollution buildup. A considerable increase in PM concentration was observed to coincide with periods of atmospheric stability. The main difference in PM composition between periods of high concentration and periods of "clean" air was found to be in the increase of ammonium nitrate concentration.     

Characterizing multi-pollutant air pollution in China: Comparison of three air quality indices

Multi-pollutant air pollution (i.e., several pollutants reaching very high concentrations simultaneously) frequently occurs in many regions across China. Air quality index (AQI) is used worldwide to inform the public about levels of air pollution and associated health risks. The current AQI approach used in China is based on the maximum value of individual pollutants, and does not consider the combined health effects of exposure to multiple pollutants. In this study, two novel alternative indices – aggregate air quality index (AAQI) and health-risk based air quality index (HAQI) – were calculated based on data collected in six megacities of China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shjiazhuang, Xi'an, and Wuhan) during 2013 to 2014. Both AAQI and HAQI take into account the combined health effects of various pollutants, and the HAQI considers the exposure (or concentration)-response relationships of pollutants. AAQI and HAQI were compared to AQI to examine the effectiveness of the current AQI in characterizing multi-pollutant air pollution in China. The AAQI and HAQI values are higher than the AQI on days when two or more pollutants simultaneously exceed the Chinese Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) 24-hour Grade II standards. The results of the comparison of the classification of risk categories based on the three indices indicate that the current AQI approach underestimates the severity of health risk associated with exposure to multi-pollutant air pollution. For the AQI-based risk category of ‘unhealthy’, 96% and 80% of the days would be ‘very unhealthy’ or ‘hazardous’ if based on AAQI and HAQI, respectively; and for the AQI-based risk category of ‘very unhealthy’, 67% and 75% of the days would be ‘hazardous’ if based on AAQI and HAQI, respectively. The results suggest that the general public, especially sensitive population groups such as children and the elderly, should take more stringent actions than those currently suggested based on the AQI approach during high air pollution events. Sensitivity studies were conducted to examine the assumptions used in the AAQI and HAQI approaches. Results show that AAQI is sensitive to the choice of pollutant irrelevant constant. HAQI is sensitive to the choice of both threshold values and pollutants included in total risk calculation.     

Evidence of DNA damage in humans inhabiting a volcanically active environment: A useful tool for biomonitoring

The present study was designed to evaluate whether chronic exposure to a volcanically active environment might result in genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in human oral epithelial cells. A study group of 120 individuals inhabiting a volcanically active environment (exposed group; Furnas village) and a reference group of 122 individuals inhabiting a village without manifestations of volcanic activity (Santo António village) were examined in this study. Individuals from Furnas village inhabit a volcanically active environment marked by several degassing manifestations, including fumarolic fields, thermal and cold CO₂ springs and soil diffuse degassing areas. For each individual, 1000 buccal epithelial cells were analyzed for the frequency of micronucleated cells (MNC) and the frequency of cells with other nuclear anomalies (ONA: pyknosis, karyolysis and karyorrhexis), by using the micronucleus assay. Information on life-style factors and an informed consent were obtained from each participant. The frequencies of MNC and of ONA per 1000 cells in the exposed group (4.3‰ and 23.5‰, respectively) were significantly higher than in the reference group (1.7‰ and 7.7‰, respectively). The risk of having a high frequency of MNC or ONA was 2.4 and 3.1-fold higher in exposed individuals compared to reference group. The analyzed confounding factors (age, gender, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and mouthwash use) did not show any significant association with the frequency of MNC or ONA. The higher risk of DNA damage in individuals inhabiting a volcanically active environment is for the first time clearly highlighted with this biomonitoring study. Given that MNC in oral epithelia are recognized as a predictive biomarker of cancer risk within a population of healthy subjects, these findings could contribute to explain the high incidence rates of lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancers previously referred for Furnas village inhabitants.     

Metaphase analysis, micronuclei assay, and urinary mutagenicity assay of mice exposed to diesel emissions

Female Swiss mice were exposed 8 h/day to diesel exhaust for 1, 3, and 7 weeks. Urine was collected overnight for 4 days prior to sacrifice while the mice continued to be exposed for eight hours during the day. The presence of mutagens was determined by the Ames Salmonella test. One hour prior to sacrifice each mouse received 1 mg/kg colcemide. After sacrifice, the marrow from each femur was obtained. The marrow from one femur was used to prepare slides for metaphase analysis and the other for micronuclei assay. Other mice received IP 50 mg/kg cyclophosphamide 24 h prior to sacrifice or 1 μmole/kg benzo(a)pyrene in each of four daily doses prior to sacrifice and served as positive controls. The Ames Salmonella assay of the unconcentrated urine after 1, 3, and 7 weeks and concentrated urine after 7 weeks exposure to diesel exhaust did not significantly vary from clean air controls. In the micronucleus test, and metaphase analysis, cyclophosphamide produced a strong positive response and the 7 week diesel exposure was not different from clean air controls.     

Residential proximity to traffic and female pubertal development

BackgroundTraffic-related air pollution (TRAP) has been linked with several adverse health outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight, which are both related to onset of puberty. No studies to date have investigated the association between TRAP and altered pubertal timing.ObjectiveDetermine the association between residential proximity to traffic, as a marker of long-term TRAP exposure, and age at pubertal onset in a longitudinal study of girls.MethodsWe analyzed data for 437 girls at the CYGNET study site of the Breast Cancer and Environment Research Program. TRAP exposure was assessed using several measures of residential proximity to traffic based on address at study entry. Using accelerated failure time models, we calculated time ratios (TRs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for specified traffic metrics and pubertal onset, defined as stage 2 or higher for breast or pubic hair development (respectively, B2 + and PH2 +). Models were adjusted for race/ethnicity, household income, and cotinine levels.ResultsAt baseline, 71% of girls lived within 150 m of a major road. The median age of onset was 10.3 years for B2 + and 10.9 years for PH2 +. Living within 150 m downwind of a major road was associated with earlier onset of PH2 + (TR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93, 0.99). Girls in the highest quintile of either distance-weighted traffic density, annual average daily traffic, and/or traffic density also reached PH2 + earlier than girls in the lowest quintiles.ConclusionsIn this first study to assess the association between residential proximity to traffic and pubertal onset we found girls with higher exposure reached one pubertal milestone several months earlier than low exposed girls, even after consideration of likely confounders. Results should be expanded in larger epidemiological studies, and with measured levels of air pollutants.     

Using city-wide mobile noise assessments to estimate bicycle trip annual exposure to Black Carbon

Several studies have shown that a significant amount of daily air pollution exposure, in particular Black Carbon (BC), is inhaled during bicycle trips. Previously, the instantaneous BC exposure of cyclists was modeled as the sum of a background concentration and a local traffic related component based on a local assessment of traffic noise. We present a fast and low cost methodology to achieve a city-wide assessment of yearly average BC exposure of cyclists along their trips, based on a city-wide mobile noise sensing campaign.The methodology requires participatory sensing measurements of noise, partially combined with BC and/or other air pollutants sensitive to local traffic variations. The combined measurements cover the spatial and meteorological variability and provide the data for an instantaneous exposure model. The mobile noise-only measurements map the full city; and yearly meteorology statistics are used to extrapolate the instantaneous exposure model to a yearly average map of in-traffic air pollution exposure. Less than four passages at each segment along the network with mobile noise equipment are necessary to reach a standard error of 500 ng/m³ for the yearly average BC exposure.A strong seasonal effect due to the BC background concentration is detected. The background contributes only 25% to the total trip exposure during spring and summer. During winter the background component increases to 50–60%. Engine related traffic noise along the bicyclist's route is a valid indicator of the BC exposure along the route, independent of the seasonal background. Low exposure route selection results in an exposure reduction of 35% in winter and 60% in summer, sensitive to the weather conditions, specific trip attributes and the available alternatives.The methodology is relevant for further research into the local effects of air pollution on health. Mobile noise mapping adds local traffic data including traffic dynamics into the air pollution exposure assessments. Local policy makers and urban planners can use the results to support the implementation of low exposure infrastructure, create awareness through route planners and achieve behavioral changes toward active travel modes.