Traffic-related Air Pollution and Health - a Canadian Literature Review

Traffic-related air pollution and health : a Canadian perspective on scientific evidence and potential exposure-mitigation strategies (112 page pdf, Michael Brauer, Conor Reynolds, Perry Hystad, The University of British Columbia, School of Population and Public Health, Mar. 1, 2012)

Today we review a significant addition to the state of knowledge about the health risks to that part of the public located near the pollution from road traffic. A third of Canadians live within 100 m of a major road or 500 m of a highway. The report concludes citing evidence from Canada and abroad that traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is a significant public health issue and makes recommendations on how to reduce this threat.
   
Key Quotes:

 “approximately 10 million individuals (32% of the Canadian population) live within 100m of a major road or 500 m of a highway.. approximately one-third of Canadian urban elementary schools are located in zones of high traffic proximity”

 “Evidence also suggests the potential for causal relationships between exposure to TRAP with cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, non-asthma respiratory symptoms and impaired lung function, and lung cancer. Canadian scientific data clearly indicates that exposure to TRAP is a significant public health issue in Canada”

“Recommended approaches..

• Install HVAC filter systems in buildings that house susceptible populations within 150m from busy roads (>15,000 AADT);
• Limit heavy truck traffic to specific routes and times;
• Target high emitting vehicles for retrofit or removal with inspection and maintenance programs;
• Separate active commuting from busy roads (e.g. create bicycle routes on minor roads);
• Implement anti-idling bylaws;
• Implement traffic congestion reduction policies (e.g. tolls, parking restrictions, low emission zones, car-share programs, increased public transportation)…
• Conduct integrated land use planning that incorporates health impact assessments (HIA's);
• Site buildings that house susceptible populations (e.g. schools, daycares,retirement homes) at least 150m from busy roads (>15,000 AADT)”

Related articles

• The Health Costs of Asthma caused by Traffic-Related Air Pollution (pollutionfreecities.blogspot.com)
• Lifetime Population Exposure to Air Pollution in Canada (pollutionfree.wordpress.com)
• Respiratory Health Impacts from Exposure to Roadside Emissions (pollutionfreecities.blogspot.com)
• High air pollution increases risk of repeated heart attacks by over 40 percent (medicalxpress.com)
• Pollutionwatch: Olympic athletes vulnerable to bad air quality (guardian.co.uk)
• Pollutionwatch: UK experienced top levels of air pollution in March (guardian.co.uk)
• The Health Costs of Asthma caused by Traffic-Related Air Pollution (pollutionfree.wordpress.com)