Traffic Pollution: Harmful Impacts On Our Health

Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is one of the major sources of air pollution in urban areas. It is caused by a mixture of vehicle exhausts, secondary pollutants formed in the atmosphere, evaporative emissions from vehicles, and non-combustion emissions (e.g. road dust, tire wear). Exposure to TRAP has been linked to a range of adverse health effects, from asthma attacks to adverse birth outcomes and even dementia. Millions of people are vulnerable to the effects of TRAP, including children, older adults, people with lung diseases, people of colour, and people with lower incomes.

People who live or work near busy highways are at greater risk of health harm

Millions of people are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, including children, older adults, and people with lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. People of colour and people with lower incomes are disproportionately affected by air pollution, which puts them at higher risk for illness. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, harm lung development in children, and even be deadly.

Vehicle emissions have become the dominant source of air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds or hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. The increasing severity and duration of traffic congestion have the potential to greatly increase pollutant emissions and degrade air quality, particularly near large roadways. These emissions contribute to the risks of morbidity and mortality for drivers, commuters, and individuals living near roadways.

In urban areas, traffic is one of the major sources of air pollutants, and exposure to this complex and variable mixture of gases and particles has been linked to a range of health effects, from adverse birth outcomes to dementia.

Vehicle emissions are a dominant source of air pollutants

Millions of people are vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, including children, older adults, and people with lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. People of colour and people with lower incomes are disproportionately affected by air pollution, which puts them at higher risk for illness. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, harm lung development in children, and even be deadly.

In addition to the health risks posed by vehicle emissions, the increasing severity and duration of traffic congestion have the potential to greatly increase pollutant emissions and degrade air quality, particularly near large roadways. This means that drivers, commuters, and individuals living near roadways are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to exposure to TRAP.

The health effects of TRAP are not limited to respiratory issues. Exposure to TRAP has been linked to a range of adverse health outcomes, from adverse birth outcomes to dementia.

Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks

People who live or work near busy highways are at greater risk of health harm from traffic pollution. Those who work or exercise outside face an increased risk from the effects of air pollution. This includes children, older adults, and people with lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, harm lung development in children, and even be deadly.

TRAP is a complex and variable mixture of gases and particles, including vehicle exhausts, secondary pollutants formed in the atmosphere, evaporative emissions from vehicles, and non-combustion emissions such as road dust and tire wear. Exposure to TRAP has been linked to a range of adverse health effects, from adverse birth outcomes to dementia.

Much of the Canadian population is regularly exposed to TRAP as a result of daily activities such as commuting, and a significant portion of the population resides in close proximity to major roadways.

Air pollution can harm lung development in children

Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. Exposure to TRAP has been linked to a range of adverse health effects, from adverse birth outcomes to harm to lung development in children. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks and even be deadly.

Millions of people are vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, including children, older adults, and people with lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. People of color and people with lower incomes are disproportionately affected by air pollution, putting them at higher risk for illness.

The complex and variable mixture of gases and particles in TRAP includes vehicle exhausts, secondary pollutants formed in the atmosphere, evaporative emissions from vehicles, and non-combustion emissions such as road dust and tire wear. The increasing severity and duration of traffic congestion have the potential to greatly increase pollutant emissions and degrade air quality, particularly near large roadways.

People of colour and people with lower incomes are disproportionately affected by air pollution

Traffic pollution can have a significant impact on our health. In urban areas, traffic is one of the major sources of air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. These emissions contribute to risks of morbidity and mortality for drivers, commuters, and individuals living near roadways. People who work or exercise outside face an increased risk from the effects of air pollution.

Millions of people are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, including children, older adults, and people with lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. People of colour and people with lower incomes are disproportionately affected by air pollution, putting them at higher risk for illness. For example, in California, Latinos, African Americans, Asians, and low-income people breathe in significantly more tailpipe pollution than other demographic groups in the state. On average, African Americans and Latinos breathe in about 40% more particulate matter from cars, trucks, and buses than white Californians, according to a study by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Asians are exposed to about 20% more pollution. Households earning less than $20,000 a year and people who don't own cars suffer from vehicle pollution levels about 20% higher than the state average.

Communities of colour and low-income communities are often located near major roadways or industrial areas, which increases their exposure to air pollution. Additionally, these communities may have limited access to healthcare and other resources, which can exacerbate the health impacts of air pollution.

The disparities in exposure to air pollution between people of colour and low-income individuals and other demographic groups are not limited to a specific region or income level. A study by Tessum et al. (2021) found that PM2.5 polluters disproportionately and systemically affect people of colour in the United States, regardless of region or income.

Addressing these inequities requires a range of measures, including reducing the use of diesel vehicles for transporting goods, mandating zero-emission buses, and encouraging the use of personal electric vehicles, especially in low-income and densely populated areas.

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