Back to Search Start Over

Near-Roadway Pollution and Childhood Asthma: Implications for Developing "Win-Win" Compact Urban Development and Clean Vehicle Strategies.

Authors :
Perez, Laura
Lurmann, Fred
Wilson, John
Pastor, Manuel
Brandt, Sylvia J.
Künzli, Nino
McConnell, Rob
Source :
Environmental Health Perspectives. Nov2012, Vol. 120 Issue 11, p1619-1626. 8p. 1 Diagram, 4 Charts, 1 Graph.
Publication Year :
2012

Abstract

Background: The emerging consensus that exposure to near-roadway traffic-related pollution causes asthma has implications for compact urban development policies designed to reduce driving and greenhouse gases. Objectives: We estimated the current burden of childhood asthma-related disease attributable to near-roadway and regional air pollution in Los Angeles County (LAC) and the potential health impact of regional pollution reduction associated with changes in population along major traffic corridors. Methods: The burden of asthma attributable to the dual effects of near-roadway and regional air pollution was estimated, using nitrogen dioxide and ozone as markers of urban combustion-related and secondary oxidant pollution, respectively. We also estimated the impact of alternative scenarios that assumed a 20% reduction in regional pollution in combination with a 3.6% reduction or 3.6% increase in the proportion of the total population living near major roads, a proxy for near-roadway exposure. Results: We estimated that 27,100 cases of childhood asthma (8% of total) in LAC were at least partly attributable to pollution associated with residential location within 75 m of a major road. As a result, a substantial proportion of asthma-related morbidity is a consequence of near-roadway pollution, even if symptoms are triggered by other factors. Benefits resulting from a 20% regional pollution reduction varied markedly depending on the associated change in near-roadway proximity. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there are large and previously unappreciated public health consequences of air pollution in LAC and probably in other metropolitan areas with dense traffic corridors. To maximize health benefits, compact urban development strategies should be coupled with policies to reduce near-roadway pollution exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00916765
Volume :
120
Issue :
11
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Environmental Health Perspectives
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
83651289
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104785