{"id":6829,"date":"2021-11-05T09:00:39","date_gmt":"2021-11-05T08:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breeze-technologies.de\/?p=6829"},"modified":"2021-11-04T18:00:19","modified_gmt":"2021-11-04T17:00:19","slug":"traffic-air-quality-the-influence-of-mobility-on-urban-air-pollution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breeze-technologies.de\/de\/blog\/traffic-air-quality-the-influence-of-mobility-on-urban-air-pollution\/","title":{"rendered":"Traffic & Air Quality – The Influence of Mobility on Urban Air Pollution"},"content":{"rendered":"

Air pollution is the greatest environmental health risk,<\/span><\/i> killing approximately 7 million worldwide every year<\/span><\/i><\/a>. Ambient air pollution accounts for 4.2 million of those deaths, of which traffic and mobility are a major source. Global transport carbon dioxide (CO2<\/sub>) emissions in 2018 <\/span><\/i>totalled 8 billion tonnes, of which 74%<\/span><\/i><\/a> came from road vehicles. Given that <\/span><\/i>55% of the world\u2019s population<\/span><\/i><\/a> live in urban areas, which tend to have the most traffic, city dwellers are at highest risk with the resulting air pollution. Let\u2019s take a look at the relationship between traffic and air quality, and how that\u2019s developed over the years.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

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How does traffic contribute to urban air pollution?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The petrol and diesel engines of cars <\/span>emit<\/span><\/a> pollutants<\/span><\/a> such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx<\/sub>), particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2<\/sub>), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that contribute to poor urban air quality. Even electric vehicles <\/span>can contribute towards air pollution<\/span><\/a> if the energy they use is generated by conventional means, such as coal power plants. Additionally, friction from tires and brake wear create primary PM emissions. The nitrogen dioxide (NO2<\/sub>) and VOCs released by road vehicles undergo photochemical reactions to form ground-level ozone (O3<\/sub>), otherwise known as <\/span>photochemical smog<\/span><\/a> in cities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the health impact of air pollution from traffic?<\/span><\/h2>\n

People who live near roads with heavy traffic within a 300-500 metre distance <\/span>are particularly vulnerable to illnesses<\/span><\/a> such as childhood asthma, impaired lung function and cognition, premature death and death from cardiovascular diseases. They are also at a higher risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dementia.<\/span><\/p>\n

How has air pollution from transportation developed over time?<\/span><\/h2>\n

In the United States, the <\/span>Clean Air Act of 1970<\/span><\/a> gave the then-newly-formed <\/span>Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)<\/span><\/a> the legal authority to regulate emissions from cars and other forms of transportation. <\/span>As a result<\/span><\/a>, lead was eliminated from fuels, sulfur levels are 90% lower than prior to regulation, and new vehicles are 98-99% cleaner for most common pollutants compared to those from the 1960s. Every $1 USD spent to reduce emissions from mobile sources results in $9 USD of benefits to public health, the environment, productivity, and consumer savings. By 2030, EPA air quality emissions standards for vehicles <\/span>are expected to annually prevent<\/span><\/a> 40,000 premature deaths, 34,000 avoided hospitalizations, and 4.8 million lost work days. However, today, the transportation sector still remains responsible for <\/span>55% of total NOx<\/sub> emissions<\/span><\/a> in the country.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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In the European Union<\/span><\/a>, sulfur oxides (SOx<\/sub>) emissions from road transport have dropped by 99%, non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) by 89%, carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 88%, and nitrogen oxides (NOx<\/sub>) by 60% since 1990. However, primary PM2.5<\/sub> emissions from braking, tire wear, and road abrasions have increased by 22% since 2000. In 2017 specifically, non-exhaust PM2.5<\/sub> accounted for 46% of emissions from the road transport sector.<\/span><\/p>\n

What does the sustainable future of mobility look like?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Overall, air pollution generated by traffic has decreased over the years across many nations thanks to environmental legislation and developments in vehicle technology. These include diesel particulate filters, which capture soot in order to reduce tailpipe emissions, and electric vehicles. Both <\/span>still contribute to air pollution<\/span><\/a>, however. As such, there is still much to be done in the way of improving mobility for future smart, sustainable cities. Research has shown that creating infrastructure for vehicles <\/span>actually encourages people<\/span><\/a> to use them more, thus exacerbating traffic. The best solution, then, is to invest in infrastructure and legislation that increases the quality of life for individuals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Development strategies <\/span>that have proven successful<\/span><\/a> for the transport sector therefore include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n