A new study by Taipei Medical University (TMU) shows that Taipei students walking to school are more likely to drop dead from air pollution than their counterparts who take transportation.
TMU public health professor Chuang Kai-jen said on Monday that the percentage of the heart rate variability (HRV) of those walking to school drops 8.6 times that of people who take transportation. He said that’s because the cardiovascular fitness and neurological responses of pedestrians are weakened by air pollution.
Chuang’s research team studied daily commute and air pollution between 2012 and 2014. The team divided 120 Taipei students into four groups: those walking and driving to school and those taking the bus and the MRT, which is Taipei’s subway system.
Chuang recommended that the public take the MRT.
“The more you are exposed to air pollution, the more dirty air you inhale and your HRV drops considerably," said Chuang. "Therefore, MRT riders are least affected by the [polluted air] or not affected at all. Your HRV will drop the most if [you] walk to school. To put it simply, taking the MRT is highly recommended, walking is least recommended. There is no visible difference between driving and taking a bus.”
Chuang said the study is not applicable to other cities due to differences in air quality.