Effects of Seating Positions on Air Pollution Exposure of E-Rickshaw Users: A Case Study in Roorkee

People breathe polluted air during their daily commute. The degree of exposure to air pollution is different at various seating positions in a vehicle. Hence, this study investigates the air quality in e-rickshaws in Roorkee. The pollution data of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and particle count were collected for different seating positions in e-rickshaws during peak hours. The study analyzed anomalies in the PM levels, the influence of meteorological factors, and the impact of seating position on PM exposure using ANOVA and Pearson correlation methods. A strong positive correlation was observed between PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and particle count. The findings revealed that the means of PM exposure levels at various seating positions differed significantly. Furthermore, the study reports that PM concentrations were highest in the passenger seat facing the opposite direction of travel. Meanwhile, the driver’s seat experiences minimum exposure because of the windshield. The results revealed that the exposure differs with the choice of seating location and peak hours inside an e-rickshaw. The study suggests that strategies should be devised to improve vehicle design to reduce PM level exposure. This study offers valuable insights into the air quality inside e-rickshaws and can assist in developing more efficient policies to control over-exposure to air pollution for commuters.