Traffic and the Urban Environment: A Health Challenge?

[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Präsentationstitel Department of Epidemiology & Public Health Swiss TPH is an associated Institute of University of Basel

Traffic – an essential element of the urban eco-system

[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Thesis: To respect health and integrity of humans, animals, and the ecology, TRAFFIC must be put on a transdisciplinary agenda of research, intersectorial innovation, collaboration, and policy

Health toll of road traffic ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Disability Adjusted Life Years (per 100‘000) due to road traffic accidents (2004, WHO) … driving has become safer than walking and biking..!

… and wrong trends despite knowledge about how to do better… ,[object Object],Indonesia, China, India (and many emerging economies)

[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Traffic – A “One Health” Challenge: To respect health and integrity of humans, animals, and the ecology, TRAFFIC must be put on a transdisciplinary agenda of research, intersectorial innovation, collaboration, and policy

Passive transport ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object], Promotes obesity epidemic with its enormous impact on Cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, Diabetes, Many other chronic diseases

Millions live in urban areas where urban planners assign ZERO SPACE TO PEOPLE = PEDESTRIANS !

Urban traffic – key source of noise ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Traffic relies on fossil fuel COMBUSTION  a main source of urban air pollution  a strong contributor to climate change

Cardio-respiratory effects of Air Pollution Künzli & Tager, Swiss Medical Weekly, 2005 (free access online) ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Evidence based on „HUMANS and OTHER ANIMALS“ (Bron Taylor)

[email_address] PDF online at www.ERSnet.org www.ersnet.org/publications/air-quality-and-health.html PDF is free : English French German Italian Turkish Catalan Portugues (2012)

Paradigm of spatial distribution of local traffic-related pollutants (such as nano-PM) along busy roads 0 100 200 300 meter

Adjusted prevalence [%] Adjusted prevalences (%) of respiratory health as a function of the residential distance from highway [m] ( Switzerland) Distribution of chronic cough in the Swiss population living along the North-South Transit highway (~1’800 adults, age 15-70) Hazenkamp et al, Env Health 2011 – online open access Wheezing with breathing problems Wheezing w/o colds Chronic cough Chronic cough or phlegm

Air pollutants (such as diesel soot) jeopardize defense mechanisms against INFECTIOUS DISEASES ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Colin Butler: „ The milieu and the emergence of influenza…“

What if Barcelona air quality would comply with WHO guidelines…

The “silent every-day epidemic” example: BARCELONA IMPACT ASSESSMENT: Estimated benefit of a 30 μ g/m 3 reduction of PM10 Perez et al, Gaz Sanit 2009 ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],10 PREMATURE DEATH PER DAY

[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Death toll due to air pollution is larger than due to traffic accidents ! (in most countries except some low income countries)

Switzerland, 1990 - 2010 40‘000 Mio km/yr 60‘000 Mio km/yr 70‘000 tons of NOx / yr 10‘000 tons of NOx / yr GDP: 30‘000 Mio (in $) GDP: 70‘000 Mio (in $) Gross Domestic Product - GDP Vehicle Kilometers driven / year NOx Emissions from traffic, per year

Switzerland, 1990 - 2010 70‘000 tons of NOx / yr 10‘000 tons of NOx / yr NOx Emissions from traffic, per year Pollution & accidents, are NOT the „inevitable price to pay“ for economic growth and wealth! Vehicle Kilometers driven / year Accidents

NOx Emissions / yr Switzerland, 1990 – 2010 Air Pollution (PM10 concentrations)

SAPALDIA (done in adults; in Davos + 7 other Swiss locations) Primary funding: Swiss National Science Foundation Improvement of air quality DOES result in better health – also shown in two Swiss land-mark studies SCARPOL (in children) Less bronchitis Less bronchitis Slower aging of lung function Fewer new cases of asthma

Nevertheless: … wrong trends: 2005/1990-ratio of PM2.5 is >1.0 in the most populated regions of the world! Brauer et al, Env Sci Tech 2011

Wrong trends… 2005/1990-ratio of Ozone (O 3 ) is >1.0 in many regions of the world… Brauer et al, Env Sci Tech 2011

Global crop yield losses in 2000 and 2030 due to ambient ozone (based on conservative estimates) Van Dingenen et al , Atmos Environ 2009 ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Air pollution is a FOOD SECURITY issue !

[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Traffic – A “One Health” Challenge: To respect health and integrity of humans, animals, and the urban ecology, TRAFFIC must be put on a transdisciplinary agenda of research, intersectorial innovation and policy

The long trail of eco-health hazards… of the fossil fuel based ‚transport economy‘…

… under very ‚normal conditions‘

Risk of death and pneumonia in young cattle depends on ambient air quality (SO2) during the last 3 months before calving Waldner et al, Arch Env Occup Health 2010 And remember London Smog December 1952: not only >4‘000 death in humans – but thousands of cattle asphyxiated

[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Traffic – A “One Health” Challenge: To respect health and integrity of humans, animals, and the urban ecology, TRAFFIC must be put on a transdisciplinary agenda of research, intersectorial innovation and policy ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Thank you [email_address] www.swisstph.ch Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute welcomes you in Basel: Swiss TPH is an associate Institute of the University of Basel PDF online at www.ERSnet.org www.ersnet.org/publications/air-quality-and-health.html

Traffic and the Urban Environment: A Health Challenge?

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Traffic and the Urban Environment: A Health Challenge?