A14 Burden of disease caused by local transport in Warsaw, Poland

Abstract

Transport is a major source of air pollution, noise, injuries and physical activity in the urban environment. The quantification of the health risks and benefits due to these factors would provide useful information for planning of the cost-effective mitigation actions. In this study we quantified the burden of disease caused by local transport in the city of Warsaw, Poland. The disability-adjusted life-years (DALY) were estimated for the transport related air pollution (particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), cadmium, lead and nickel), noise, injuries and physical activity. The exposure for these factors was based on local and international data, and the exposure-response functions (ERFs) for published reviews and recommendations. The uncertainties were quantified and propagated with the Monte Carlo method. Local transport generated air pollution, noise and injuries were estimated to cause approximately 60 000 DALYs in the study area. From this 45% was due to air pollution and another 45% due to noise. Transport related physical activity was estimated to cause a health benefit of 27 000 DALYs. Main quantified uncertainties were related to background (non-transport related) physical activity, disability weight for the annoyance of noise and to the ERF for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution. Most of the health risks of local transport in urban area were caused by air pollution and noise. The results indicate that the health burden of transport could be mitigated by reducing the motorized transport causing air pollution and noise and by encouraging physically active transport in the study area.