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Transport Impacts on Public Health
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Transport Impacts on Public Health

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2015) | Viewed by 49610

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Brian Caulfield

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
Interests: environmental impacts of transport; simulation and modelling transportation networks; stated preference analysis; transport modelling; transport policy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The past decade has seen an explosion of information concerning the health and environmental impacts of transportation. Transportation has a key impact on our daily lives. The extent to which we recognize how the way in which we travel impacts upon our health and our environment is gaining increasing academic and policy interest. With increases in the use of cycling and other sustainable modes of transport in some areas, more needs to be known on the impacts of these modal shifts.

The objective of this Special Issue is to ascertain the impacts of transport on health and the environment. Papers on new methods to measure this relationship, as well as case studies quantifying these impacts, are welcomed.

Dr. Brian Caulfield
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • transport and health
  • emissions from transport
  • sustainable transport
  • public health
  • cycling and walking

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

460 KiB  
Article
Relationship between Objectively Measured Transportation Behaviors and Health Characteristics in Older Adults
by Michelle Takemoto, Jordan A. Carlson, Kevin Moran, Suneeta Godbole, Katie Crist and Jacqueline Kerr
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(11), 13923-13937; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph121113923 - 30 Oct 2015
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 6022
Abstract
This study used objective Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to investigate the relationship between pedestrian and vehicle trips to physical, cognitive, and psychological functioning in older adults living in retirement communities. Older adults (N = 279; mean age = 83 ± 6 years) wore [...] Read more.
This study used objective Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to investigate the relationship between pedestrian and vehicle trips to physical, cognitive, and psychological functioning in older adults living in retirement communities. Older adults (N = 279; mean age = 83 ± 6 years) wore a GPS and accelerometer for 6 days. Participants completed standard health measures. The Personal Activity and Location Measurement System (PALMS) was used to calculate the average daily number of trips, distance, and minutes traveled for pedestrian and vehicle trips from the combined GPS and accelerometer data. Linear mixed effects regression models explored relationships between these transportation variables and physical, psychological and cognitive functioning. Number, distance, and minutes of pedestrian trips were positively associated with physical and psychological functioning but not cognitive functioning. Number of vehicle trips was negatively associated with fear of falls; there were no other associations between the vehicle trip variables and functioning. Vehicle travel did not appear to be related to functioning in older adults in retirement communities except that fear of falling was related to number of vehicle trips. Pedestrian trips had moderate associations with multiple physical and psychological functioning measures, supporting a link between walking and many aspects of health in older adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transport Impacts on Public Health)
678 KiB  
Article
Changes in Active Commuting to School in Czech Adolescents in Different Types of Built Environment across a 10-Year Period
by Jan Dygrýn, Josef Mitáš, Aleš Gába, Lukáš Rubín and Karel Frömel
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(10), 12988-12998; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph121012988 - 16 Oct 2015
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4912
Abstract
Active commuting (AC) to school represents a great opportunity to incorporate walking or cycling into adolescents’ everyday routine. The objective of the study was to describe changes in AC in Czech adolescents across a 10-year period in different built environments. Data from the [...] Read more.
Active commuting (AC) to school represents a great opportunity to incorporate walking or cycling into adolescents’ everyday routine. The objective of the study was to describe changes in AC in Czech adolescents across a 10-year period in different built environments. Data from the 2001 and 2011 Czech Census of Population and Housing were used to examine the mode of transportation taken to school in 6236 adolescents. Changes in AC over time were analyzed for low and high walkable areas separately in two Czech regional cities, Olomouc and Hradec Králové. Between 2001 and 2011, the proportion of adolescents actively commuting to school decreased by 47%, from an absolute rate of 49.1% to 26%. The proportion of active commuters fell in low walkable areas by 61% and in high walkable areas by 39%. The results indicated that adolescents in 2011 were 2.7 times less (OR = 0.365, p < 0.001) likely to actively commute than in 2001. The AC behavior in Czech adolescents has a negative tendency to replicate travel-to-school patterns in adolescents previously described in more developed countries. The findings might serve as a recommendation for municipal policy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transport Impacts on Public Health)
1096 KiB  
Article
Isochrones as Indicators of the Influence of Traffic in Public Health: A Visual Simulation Application in Ávila, Spain
by F. Javier Otamendi and David García-Heredia
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(10), 12556-12576; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph121012556 - 09 Oct 2015
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5114
Abstract
It is well known that excessive rescue times after traffic accidents negatively affect the health of those injured. There is a need to quantitatively measure the impact of unexpected events like ambulance availability, weather, floating population and congestion in those rescue times. A [...] Read more.
It is well known that excessive rescue times after traffic accidents negatively affect the health of those injured. There is a need to quantitatively measure the impact of unexpected events like ambulance availability, weather, floating population and congestion in those rescue times. A family of indicators based on isochrones is disguised and proposed to understand the risk of the whole population as the probability of not being assisted on time. Indicators of health risk for local towns are also defined. The indicators are calculated using a simulation model and visualized in web format. The framework of analysis is validated using Ávila (Spain) and the problem of the optimal deployment of ambulances as a test-bench. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transport Impacts on Public Health)
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1768 KiB  
Article
Traffic, Air Pollution, Minority and Socio-Economic Status: Addressing Inequities in Exposure and Risk
by Gregory C. Pratt, Monika L. Vadali, Dorian L. Kvale and Kristie M. Ellickson
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(5), 5355-5372; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120505355 - 19 May 2015
Cited by 83 | Viewed by 14575
Abstract
Higher levels of nearby traffic increase exposure to air pollution and adversely affect health outcomes. Populations with lower socio-economic status (SES) are particularly vulnerable to stressors like air pollution. We investigated cumulative exposures and risks from traffic and from MNRiskS-modeled air pollution in [...] Read more.
Higher levels of nearby traffic increase exposure to air pollution and adversely affect health outcomes. Populations with lower socio-economic status (SES) are particularly vulnerable to stressors like air pollution. We investigated cumulative exposures and risks from traffic and from MNRiskS-modeled air pollution in multiple source categories across demographic groups. Exposures and risks, especially from on-road sources, were higher than the mean for minorities and low SES populations and lower than the mean for white and high SES populations. Owning multiple vehicles and driving alone were linked to lower household exposures and risks. Those not owning a vehicle and walking or using transit had higher household exposures and risks. These results confirm for our study location that populations on the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum and minorities are disproportionately exposed to traffic and air pollution and at higher risk for adverse health outcomes. A major source of disparities appears to be the transportation infrastructure. Those outside the urban core had lower risks but drove more, while those living nearer the urban core tended to drive less but had higher exposures and risks from on-road sources. We suggest policy considerations for addressing these inequities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transport Impacts on Public Health)
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1045 KiB  
Article
A Comparison of Direct and Two-Stage Transportation of Patients to Hospital in Poland
by Anna Rosiek, Aleksandra Rosiek-Kryszewska, Łukasz Leksowski and Krzysztof Leksowski
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(5), 4572-4586; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120504572 - 24 Apr 2015
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5580
Abstract
Background: The rapid international expansion of telemedicine reflects the growth of technological innovations. This technological advancement is transforming the way in which patients can receive health care. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in Poland, at the Department of Cardiology [...] Read more.
Background: The rapid international expansion of telemedicine reflects the growth of technological innovations. This technological advancement is transforming the way in which patients can receive health care. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in Poland, at the Department of Cardiology of the Regional Hospital of Louis Rydygier in Torun. The researchers analyzed the delay in the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome. The study was conducted as a survey and examined 67 consecutively admitted patients treated invasively in a two-stage transport system. Data were analyzed statistically. Results: Two-stage transportation does not meet the timeframe guidelines for the treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Intervals for the analyzed group of patients were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Direct transportation of the patient to a reference center with interventional cardiology laboratory has a significant impact on reducing in-hospital delay in case of patients with acute coronary syndrome. Perspectives: This article presents the results of two-stage transportation of the patient with acute coronary syndrome. This measure could help clinicians who seek to assess time needed for intervention. It also shows how time from the beginning of pain in chest is important and may contribute to patient disability, death or well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transport Impacts on Public Health)
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870 KiB  
Article
Examining the Link Between Public Transit Use and Active Commuting
by Melissa Bopp, Vikash V. Gayah and Matthew E. Campbell
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4256-4274; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404256 - 17 Apr 2015
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6432
Abstract
Background: An established relationship exists between public transportation (PT) use and physical activity. However, there is limited literature that examines the link between PT use and active commuting (AC) behavior. This study examines this link to determine if PT users commute more [...] Read more.
Background: An established relationship exists between public transportation (PT) use and physical activity. However, there is limited literature that examines the link between PT use and active commuting (AC) behavior. This study examines this link to determine if PT users commute more by active modes. Methods: A volunteer, convenience sample of adults (n = 748) completed an online survey about AC/PT patterns, demographic, psychosocial, community and environmental factors. t-test compared differences between PT riders and non-PT riders. Binary logistic regression analyses examined the effect of multiple factors on AC and a full logistic regression model was conducted to examine AC. Results: Non-PT riders (n = 596) reported less AC than PT riders. There were several significant relationships with AC for demographic, interpersonal, worksite, community and environmental factors when considering PT use. The logistic multivariate analysis for included age, number of children and perceived distance to work as negative predictors and PT use, feelings of bad weather and lack of on-street bike lanes as a barrier to AC, perceived behavioral control and spouse AC were positive predictors. Conclusions: This study revealed the complex relationship between AC and PT use. Further research should investigate how AC and public transit use are related. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transport Impacts on Public Health)
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9305 KiB  
Article
High Resolution Spatial and Temporal Mapping of Traffic-Related Air Pollutants
by Stuart Batterman, Rajiv Ganguly and Paul Harbin
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 3646-3666; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120403646 - 01 Apr 2015
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6353
Abstract
Vehicle traffic is one of the most significant emission sources of air pollutants in urban areas. While the influence of mobile source emissions is felt throughout an urban area, concentrations from mobile emissions can be highest near major roadways. At present, information regarding [...] Read more.
Vehicle traffic is one of the most significant emission sources of air pollutants in urban areas. While the influence of mobile source emissions is felt throughout an urban area, concentrations from mobile emissions can be highest near major roadways. At present, information regarding the spatial and temporal patterns and the share of pollution attributable to traffic-related air pollutants is limited, in part due to concentrations that fall sharply with distance from roadways, as well as the few monitoring sites available in cities. This study uses a newly developed dispersion model (RLINE) and a spatially and temporally resolved emissions inventory to predict hourly PM2.5 and NOx concentrations across Detroit (MI, USA) at very high spatial resolution. Results for annual averages and high pollution days show contrasting patterns, the need for spatially resolved analyses, and the limitations of surrogate metrics like proximity or distance to roads. Data requirements, computational and modeling issues are discussed. High resolution pollutant data enable the identification of pollutant “hotspots”, “project-level” analyses of transportation options, development of exposure measures for epidemiology studies, delineation of vulnerable and susceptible populations, policy analyses examining risks and benefits of mitigation options, and the development of sustainability indicators integrating environmental, social, economic and health information. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transport Impacts on Public Health)
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