scholarly journals Potential Effects on Travelers’ Air Pollution Exposure and Associated Mortality Estimated for a Mode Shift from Car to Bicycle Commuting

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (20) ◽  
pp. 7635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Nilsson Sommar ◽  
Christer Johansson ◽  
Boel Lövenheim ◽  
Anders Markstedt ◽  
Magnus Strömgren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Physical Capacity ◽  
Model Estimate ◽  
Mode Shift ◽  
Bicycle Commuting ◽  
Traffic Volumes ◽  
Mode Of Transport ◽  
Pollution Exposure

This study aims to use dispersion-modeled concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and black carbon (BC) to estimate bicyclist exposures along a network of roads and bicycle paths. Such modeling was also performed in a scenario with increased bicycling. Accumulated concentrations between home and work were thereafter calculated for both bicyclists and drivers of cars. A transport model was used to estimate traffic volumes and current commuting preferences in Stockholm County. The study used individuals’ home and work addresses, their age, sex, and an empirical model estimate of their expected physical capacity in order to establish realistic bicycle travel distances. If car commuters with estimated physical capacity to bicycle to their workplace within 30 min changed their mode of transport to bicycle, >110,000 additional bicyclists would be achieved. Time-weighted mean concentrations along paths were, among current bicyclists, reduced from 25.8 to 24.2 μg/m3 for NOx and 1.14 to 1.08 μg/m3 for BC. Among the additional bicyclists, the yearly mean NOx dose from commuting increased from 0.08 to 1.03 μg/m3. This would be expected to yearly cause 0.10 fewer deaths for current bicycling levels and 1.7 more deaths for additional bicycling. This increased air pollution impact is much smaller than the decrease in the total population.

scholarly journals Personal Exposure to Air Pollution for Various Modes of Transport in Auckland, New Zealand

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 84-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. N. Dirks ◽  
P. Sharma ◽  
J. A. Salmond ◽  
S. B. Costello
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Personal Exposure ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Commute Time ◽  
Air Pollution Exposure ◽  
Commuting Time ◽  
Mode Of Transport ◽  
Pollution Exposure

This paper investigates the carbon monoxide (CO) doses received while commuting by different modes (car, bus, train, motorcycle, bicycle and running), taking into account the commute time as well as the level of physical activity required. While the participants were constrained to travel at specific peak traffic times and between designated start and end points, they were free to choose a route appropriate for their mode of transport. The results of this study suggest that the lowest exposures (concentrations of pollutants) are experienced by train commuters, largely a reflection of the routes being removed from any significant road traffic. Motorcyclists experienced significantly higher average concentrations as a result of high-concentration and very-short-duration peaks not seen in the traces of car and bus commuters travelling on the same road. Travel by bus along a dedicated busway was also found to be effective in reducing commuter air pollution exposure compared to travel by car on a congested stretch of motorway. The average concentrations to which cyclists and runners were exposed were found to be not significantly different for those travelling by car or bus (except when on dedicated pedestrian/cycleways). However, when the increased physical activity that is required is taken into account (leading to higher volumes of air breathed) along with the increased commuting time (especially in the case of runners), the air pollution doses (as estimated by the product of the concentration, commute time and breathing factor) were found to be significantly higher than for the motorised modes. The results suggest that separate pedestrian/cycleways go some way towards providing healthier options for cyclists and pedestrians.

Bicycle Commuting and Exposure to Air Pollution: A Questionnaire-Based Investigation of Perceptions, Symptoms, and Risk Management Strategies

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Cole-Hunter ◽  
Lidia Morawska ◽  
Colin Solomon
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Respiratory Disorder ◽  
Exposure Risk ◽  
Bicycle Commuting ◽  
Air Pollution Exposure ◽  
Risk Management Strategies ◽  
Pollution Exposure

Background:An increase in bicycle commuting participation may improve public health and traffic congestion in cities. Information on air pollution exposure (such as perception, symptoms, and risk management) contributes to the responsible promotion of bicycle commuting participation.Methods:To determine perceptions, symptoms, and willingness for specific exposure risk management strategies of exposure to air pollution, a questionnaire-based cross-sectional investigation was conducted with adult bicycle commuters (n = 153; age = 41 ± 11 years; 28% female).Results:Frequency of acute respiratory signs and symptoms were positively associated with in-commute and postcommute compared with precommute time periods (P < .05); there was greater positive association with respiratory disorder compared with healthy, and female compared with male, participants. The perception (but not signs or symptoms) of in-commute exposure to air pollution was positively associated with the estimated level of in-commute proximity to motorized traffic. The majority of participants indicated a willingness (which varied with health status and gender) to adopt risk management strategies (with desired features) if shown to be appropriate and effective.Conclusions:While acute signs and symptoms of air pollution exposure are indicated with bicycle commuting, and more so in susceptible individuals, there is willingness to manage exposure risk by adopting effective strategies with desired features.

scholarly journals On-road Air Pollution Exposure to Cyclists in an Agent-Based Simulation Framework

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-125
Author(s):  
Amit Agarwal ◽  
Ihab Kaddoura
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Major Effect ◽  
Background Concentration ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Simulation Framework ◽  
Agent Based Simulation ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Air Pollution Exposure ◽  
Mode Of Transport ◽  
Pollution Exposure

Bicycle is not only a sustainable mode of transport but also health benefits of bicycling due to increased physical activities are well cited. However, in urban agglomerations, on-road air pollution exposure to cyclists/pedestrians is a matter of concern which is understudied. This study proposes an approach to calculate the on-road air pollution exposure for drivers of different vehicles in an agent-based simulation framework. In the proposed approach, the breathing rate of different drivers, penetration rate, vehicle-occupancy and background concentration are taken into consideration. The approach is applied to a real-world scenario of Patna, India where non-motorized modes are in abundance. A comparison of total inhaled mass per trip for drivers of different vehicles is made and it is found that cyclists are most exposed user group. An analysis for various background concentrations for different days of the year shows that the contribution of the background concentration has a major effect on the air pollution exposure level. The outcome is spatially analyzed to identify the locations of most affected user groups mapped to their home locations. Further, the on-road air pollution exposure of business-as-usual scenario is compared with a policy case and it is found that a dedicated bicycle track can increase the exposure per trip to cyclists by 40 %.

scholarly journals Life Course Air Pollution Exposure and Cognitive Decline: Modelled Historical Air Pollution Data and the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom C. Russ ◽  
Mark P.C. Cherrie ◽  
Chris Dibben ◽  
Sam Tomlinson ◽  
Stefan Reis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Air Pollution Exposure ◽  
Lothian Birth Cohort ◽  
Key Barrier ◽  
Pollution Exposure

Background: Air pollution has been consistently linked with dementia and cognitive decline. However, it is unclear whether risk is accumulated through long-term exposure or whether there are sensitive/critical periods. A key barrier to clarifying this relationship is the dearth of historical air pollution data. Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of modelling historical air pollution data and using them in epidemiological models. Methods: Using the EMEP4UK atmospheric chemistry transport model, we modelled historical fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations for the years 1935, 1950, 1970, 1980, and 1990 and combined these with contemporary modelled data from 2001 to estimate life course exposure in 572 participants in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 with lifetime residential history recorded. Linear regression and latent growth models were constructed using cognitive ability (IQ) measured by the Moray House Test at the ages of 11, 70, 76, and 79 years to explore the effects of historical air pollution exposure. Covariates included sex, IQ at age 11 years, social class, and smoking. Results: Higher air pollution modelled for 1935 (when participants would have been in utero) was associated with worse change in IQ from age 11–70 years (β = −0.006, SE = 0.002, p = 0.03) but not cognitive trajectories from age 70–79 years (p > 0.05). There was no support for other critical/sensitive periods of exposure or an accumulation of risk (all p > 0.05). Conclusion: The life course paradigm is essential in understanding cognitive decline and this is the first study to examine life course air pollution exposure in relation to cognitive health.

scholarly journals Life course air pollution exposure and cognitive decline: modelled historical air pollution data and the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom C. Russ ◽  
Mark P. C. Cherrie ◽  
Chris Dibben ◽  
Sam Tomlinson ◽  
Stefan Reis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Life Course ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Birth Cohort ◽  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Transport Model ◽  
Critical Periods ◽  
Air Pollution Exposure ◽  
Lothian Birth Cohort ◽  
Pollution Exposure

ABSTRACTBackgroundAir pollution has been consistently linked with dementia and cognitive decline. However, it is unclear whether risk is accumulated through long-term exposure or whether there are sensitive/critical periods. A key barrier to clarifying this relationship is the dearth of historical air pollution data.ObjectiveTo demonstrate the feasibility of modelling historical air pollution data and using them in epidemiological models.MethodsUsing the EMEP4UK atmospheric chemistry transport model, we modelled historical fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations for the years 1935, 1950, 1970, 1980, and 1990 and combined these with contemporary modelled data from 2001 to estimate life course exposure in 572 participants in the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 with lifetime residential history recorded. Linear regression and latent growth models were constructed using cognitive ability (IQ) measured by the Moray House Test at the ages of 11, 70, 76, and 79 years to explore the effects of historical air pollution exposure. Covariates included sex, IQ at age 11 years, social class, and smoking.ResultsHigher air pollution modelled for 1935 (when participants would have been in utero) was associated with worse change in IQ from age 11-70 years (β=-0.006, SE=0.002, P=0.03) but not cognitive trajectories from age 70-79 years (P>0.05). There was no support for other critical/sensitive periods of exposure or an accumulation of risk (all P>0.05).ConclusionsThe life course paradigm is essential in understanding cognitive decline and this is the first study to examine life course air pollution exposure in relation to cognitive health.

scholarly journals Differential Effect of Ambient Air Pollution Exposure on Risk of Gestational Hypertension and Preeclampsia

Hypertension ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 384-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie J. Nobles ◽  
Andrew Williams ◽  
Marion Ouidir ◽  
Seth Sherman ◽  
Pauline Mendola
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Differential Effect ◽  
Gestational Hypertension ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
Air Pollution Exposure ◽  
Pollution Exposure
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