Mass Transit At the Show 2023 - 15

University of Washington (UW) analysis found fentanyl was
involved in 90 percent of opioid overdoses in Washington state
and 65 percent of all overdose deaths.
This mix of concern and limited data prompted five agencies
in Washington state and Oregon, including Sound Transit,
King County Metro, Community Transit, Everett Transit and
TriMet, to fund a study performed by UW to assess levels of
fentanyl and methamphetamine in the air and on surfaces in
public transportation buses and trains.
The study, " Assessing fentanyl and methamphetamine in the
air and on surfaces of transit vehicles, " was released in early
September and provided a nuanced answer to the big question
surrounding secondhand drug exposure risk while working or
riding in a transit system.
As Mass Transit previously reported, the study was " a limited-scope,
first-of-its-kind assessment " with the research team
finding trace amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl on
surface and air samples. The research team gathered air and
surface samples from four agencies during 28 nights along transit
lines operators had observed drug use occurring. The team
collected 78 air samples and 102 surface samples near vehicle
operators and in other areas of the vehicles.
Researchers detected methamphetamine in 98 percent of
surface samples and 100 percent of air samples while fentanyl
was detected in 46 percent of surface and 25 percent of air
samples. One air sample exceeded federal
recommendations for airborne fentanyl
exposure at work established by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
No similar guidelines exist for airborne
methamphetamine and no enforceable
federal or state regulations exist for either
fentanyl or methamphetamine exposures
in a workplace.
Marissa Baker, a UW assistant professor
of environmental and occupational health
sciences who co-led the assessment, explained
the research team's sensitive equipment
was more likely to detect drug activity
and the detection of substances " does
not necessarily mean it poses a health risk
to operators or the riding public. "
Dr. Scott Phillips, executive/medical
director of the Washington Poison Center,
and Dr. Robert G. Hendrickson, program
director, fellowship in medical toxicology
and medical director for the Oregon
Poison Center, issued a joint statement
following the release of UW's assessment,
recognizing the presence of drugs in a
Exposures to
the quantities
of drug
demonstrated
in this study
are too small
to produce
physical
effects from
a short-term
exposure that
a rider would
experience. "
Dr. Scott Phillips
and Dr. Robert G.
Hendrickson
ADVANCING PUBLIC TRANSIT
IS A NONSTOP RIDE.
GIRO'S HASTUS IS THE WAY
FORWARD.
We partner with our clients, empowering them to
transform their challenges for planning, scheduling and
operations into new daily realities for their workforce
and riders.
By improving urban mobility, together we improve the
quality of people's lives.
Let's meet at APTA EXPO booth 3867.
For more information, visit www.MassTransitmag.com/10065270
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OCTOBER 2023 APTA EXPO ISSUE | MassTransitmag.com 15
8/16/23 2:51 PM
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Mass Transit At the Show 2023

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