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Articles in Different transportation choices impact air quality and, in turn, health. (see Air Quality chapter for details on the impact of air pollution on health)

  • Shorter trips equal more pollution. Automobiles pollute most when cold, as their catalytic converters do not operate at peak efficiency until they reach ordinary operating temperature. Because of this, the first few miles of a trip following a cold start may result in as much pollution as the next 10 miles.

    Frank L, Stone B, Bachman W. Linking land use with household vehicle emissions in the central Puget Sound: methodological framework and findings. Transp Res: Part D. 2000;5(3):173-196.

     

  • Particulate matter from roadway vehicles exacerbates cardiovascular disease and asthma, leading to hospital visits and premature death. For example, ozone is a respiratory irritant that exacerbates asthma and impairs lung development.

    US Environmental Protection Agency. Our built and natural environments: a technical review of the interactions between land use, transportation, and environmental quality. 2001. Available at: www.epa.gov/dced/pdf/built.pdf. Accessed July 29, 2009.

     

  • Los Angeles has the worst air pollution in the nation, and most of it is from motor vehicles. Transportation accounts for 75% of total reactive organic gas (ROG), 98% of carbon monoxide (CO), 83% of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and 68% of oxides of sulfur (SOx).

    Small K, Kazimi C. On the costs of air pollution from motor vehicles. J Trans Econ Pol. 2005;29(1):7-32.

     

  • The state of California estimates that 70% of the cancer risk from the air we breathe is attributable to diesel PM. Due to a combination of lagging emission standards, the long life of the diesel engine, and the high number of miles each truck travels, diesel trucks are the largest emitter of diesel PM in the state.

    California Air Resources Board. Health effects of diesel exhaust particulate matter. 2006. Available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/diesel/dpm_health_fs.pdf. Accessed July 29, 2009.

     

  • Vehicle miles traveled are directly proportional to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

    Ewing R, Frank L, Kreutzer R. Understanding the relationship between public health and the built environment: a report to the LEED-ND Core Committee. 2006. Available at: https://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=1480. Accessed July 29, 2009.

     

  • Greenhouse gases contribute to climate change, which may increase the following: heat-related illness and death, health effects related to extreme weather events, health effects related to air pollution, water-borne and food-borne diseases, and vector-borne and rodent-borne disease.

    Knowlton K, Lynn B, Goldberg RA, et al. Projecting heat-related mortality impacts under a changing climate in the New York City region. Am J Public Health. 2007;97:2028-2034.
    Canadian Public Health Association. Health effects of climate change and air pollution. 2007. Available at: http://www.ccah.cpha.ca/effects.htm. Accessed on January 21, 2008.

     

  • Reduction of emissions, including greenhouse gasses, can help reduce global warming. The effects of global warming could have significant health impacts including issues related to heat, extreme weather events, and the spread of vectors that carry infectious disease.

    Canadian Public Health Association. Health effects of climate change and air pollution. 2007. Available at: http://www.ccah.cpha.ca/effects.htm. Accessed on January 21, 2008.

     

  • Air pollutants, including ozone and particulate matter, are causal factors for cardiovascular mortality and respiratory disease and illness.

    California Air Resources Board. Recent research findings: health effects of particulate matter and ozone air pollution, November 2007. http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/health/fs/pm_ozone-fs.pdf. Accessed on August 29, 2009.

     

  • Health impacts from diesel trucks include acute bronchitis, heart and lung disease, asthma, and other respiratory symptoms. The state Air Resources Board estimated that diesel pollution from trucks and buses alone was responsible for 4,500 premature deaths in California in 2008.

    California Air Resources Board. Health effects of diesel exhaust particulate matter. 2006. Available at http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/diesel/dpm_health_fs.pdf. Accessed July 29, 2009.
    Union of Concerned Scientists. Diesel trucks: air pollution and public health. 2008. Available at: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/vehicle_impacts/diesel/diesel-trucks-air-pollution.html. Accessed July 29, 2009.

     

  • Vehicle emissions include particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, diesel exhaust and benzene, which are detrimental to respiratory and cardiovascular health, cause cancer, and are associated with increased mortality.

    Gauderman WJ, Avol E, Gilliland F, et al. The effect of air pollution on lung development from 10–18 years of age. N Engl J Med. 2004;351(11):1057-1067
    Goldberg MS, Burnett RT, Bailar JC, et al. Identification of persons with cardiorespiratory conditions who are at risk of dying from the acute effects of ambient air particles. Environ Health Perspect. 2001;109(suppl 4):487–494.

     

  • One comprehensive traffic modeling study for several large California cities predicted that charging 8 to 19 cents per vehicle-mile as a congestion fee would reduce congestion by 5 to 10%, and emissions by 3 to 6%.

    Deakin E, Harvey, G. Transportation pricing strategies for California: an assessment of congestion, emissions, energy, and equity impacts. Sacramento, CA: California Environmental Protection Agency; 1996.

     

  • Empirical evidence indicates that higher-density development does not necessarily increase congestion, and Smart Growth strategies that improve accessibility and transportation mode diversity can further reduce per capita congestion delay.

    Victoria Transport Policy Institute. Congestion reduction strategies: identifying and evaluating strategies to reduce traffic congestion. 2007. Available at: http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm96.htm. Accessed on January 10, 2008.

     

  • On average, public transportation produces 95% less carbon monoxide, 92% fewer volatile organic com- pounds and 45% less carbon dioxide compared to private automobiles.

    Source: American Public Transportation Association. 2002.The benefits of public transportation: the route to better personal health.Washington, DC: APTA