Summary
FEATURES - Report
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Extract
Potential health effects associated with residential proximity to freeways and primary roads: review of scientific literature, 1999-2006.
Introduction
During the 1970s and 1980s, environmental regulations substantially reduced emissions from industry and stationary sources. Automobiles and other road traffic (mobile sources) became the most prominent contributors to urban air pollution in many areas of the United States (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1994). Traffic emissions include nitrogen oxides (N[O.sub.x]), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene and 1,3 butadiene, and particulate matter (PM). In addition, toxic air pollutants including aldehydes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals can adhere to traffic-generated particulate matter (Oberdorster, 2001). Studies characterizing distributions of fresh vehicular exhaust documented that concentrations were higher near roadways but diminished to near background levels within 150-300 meters (m) (Gilbert, Goldberg, Beckerman, Brook & Jerrett 2005; Zhu, Hinds, Kim, & Sioutas, 2002; Zhu, Kuhn, Mayo, & Hinds, 2006). The steep declines in concentrations were attributed to evaporation of volatile constituents, atmospheric dispersion, and coagulation (Zhu, Hinds, Kim, Shen, & Sioutas, 2002). Adverse health effects have been associated with residential proximity to traffic. Traffic constituents potentially affecting health include ultrafine (PM0.1) and fine (PM2.5) particles which can penetrate deep into the lungs (Oberdorster, 2001) and have been associated with respiratory, pulmonary and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (Brunekreef & Holgate, 2002; Dockery 2001; Pope, Burnett, Thun, Calle, & Kerwski, 2002). Exposures to traffic-related PM and CO have been associated with adverse birth outcomes (Ritz, Yu, Fruin, Chapa, Shaw, & Harris, 2002; Ritz & Yu, 1999; Ritz, Yu, & Fruin, 2000), which may lead to increased childhood morbidity and mortality and increased risk of hypertension and coronary heart disease in adulthood (Barker, 1995; Osmond & Baker, 2000). Diesel emissions have been associated with effects including lung cancer (Lloyd & Cackette, 2001; Mauderly, 1990; Sydbom, Blomberg, Parnia, Stenfors, Sandstrom, & Dahlen, 2001) and pulmonary/respiratory disorders (Nel, Diaz-Sanchez, & Li 2001). In addition, traffic emissions contain many known and suspected carcinogens. Because of their ...See the full content of this document
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