Health Impact Assessment of Active Transportation in Children

Abstract

Introduction: Recent epidemiological and health impact assessment (HIA) studies suggest that a change from passive (car) to active transportation (cycling, walking) and public transport in daily life could improve health. Although a number of HIA studies have been conducted in adults, such studies are still lacking in children. Methods: We conducted a HIA of active and public transport to school in children (6-11 years old) in Barcelona, Spain. We collected information in local transport, environmental and health records, Urban Mobility Plan and scientific publications. Local measurement of particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) during travel to school in different mode of transports were performed. A transport scenario was built assuming a 50% reduction in the car trips to school and their substitution by active and public transport modes. Risk assessment approach was applied to estimate the annual morbidity related with the transport scenario. The health exposures included in the risk assessment were traffic incidents, air pollution exposure to (PM2.5), and physical activity. Results: The substitution of 50% school trips by car per day to public and active transport trips could avoid annually 5 cases of obesity and overweight, 10 cases of asthma and bronchitis, and 4 cases of traffic injuries per year in Barcelona. Conclusion: Transport policies focused on children, encouraging the use of public and active transport can produce health benefits. The HIA can be used as a tool to improve decision making process in urban and transport policies for children. The study also highlights the need to create more evidence for different age groups (as children) on physical activity and air pollution and multiple health outcomes