Clean Air Research
Highway Research
Background
With more than 35 million people in the United States living within 300 feet of a major road, there is growing concern about the potential health impacts from the air pollutants associated with the cars, trucks and other vehicles.
Studies have shown that people who live, work, or attend school near major roads have an increased incidence and severity of health problems that may be related to air pollution from roadway traffic. Health effects linked to near roadway exposures include reduced lung function and impaired lung development in children, asthma, cardiovascular disease, low birth weight, pre-term newborns, and premature death.
Additional research is needed to learn more about pollutants near roadways, how and to what extent people are exposed to them, and the type and severity of associated health effects.
Near Road Air Pollution Studies
A series of multidisciplinary studies on air pollution near roads is producing important scientific data and tools for federal, state and local governments and organizations to make decisions about future road projects and to address health concerns related to roadways.
The research will be used in the development of federal regulatory and voluntary programs at the community and local government level to reduce air pollution along highways. State highway and environmental agencies can use the science to assess the local health impacts of transportation decisions.
The information also can assist local school districts with decisions on whether to locate new schools near large roadways, and how to mitigate impacts from local roads on existing schools.
With data collected from the roadway studies, numerous scientific papers, models and assessment tools, and synthesis products will be prepared that will improve knowledge about the impacts of traffic emissions on air quality near roads and the possible links to adverse health effects.
The research objectives are to:
- Identify and define mobile source and roadway emissions through direct measurements of vehicles and monitoring near roads with varied traffic levels and vehicle classifications
- Assess factors affecting the variability of near-road air pollutants, such as traffic activity and roadway-design features
- Improve modeling tools for near-road air quality and human exposure assessments
- Assess the health effects from near-roadway exposures
Key scientific questions include:
- How do traffic and roadway emissions affect exposures and adverse health effects for populations living, working, or going to school near roads?
- What kinds of air pollution have negative effects on human health?
- What decision tools are available or can be produced that can be used in regulatory decision-making as well as transportation and community planning?
- Do public facilities located near major roadways present an exposure and health risk to their occupants?
Contact
Dan Costa (costa.dan@epa.gov), interim National Program Director, Air, Climate and Energy Research Program, EPA's Office of Research and Development, 919-541-2532.