Urban Ambient Air Pollution Research Articles

Analyzing Public Environmental Concerns at the Threshold to Reduce Urban Air Pollution

This work focuses on the extraction and analysis of large-scale data from the Internet, specifically using panel data consisting of 273 prefecture-level cities spanning the period from 2011 to 2021. The data are processed using both the panel fixed-effect model and the panel smooth transformation model (PSTR). This study examines the relationship between public environmental concern and urban air pollution, as well as the impact of various city area divisions on public environmental concern and urban ambient air pollution. The regression analysis reveals several key findings: (1) It is observed that the impact of public participation in environmental pollution control on suppressing air pollution exhibits a lag of approximately three periods. This implies that it takes some time for the power of public participation to manifest its effect in reducing air pollution. (2) The study finds that urban public environmental concern, as measured by the Baidu Index, has a suppressive effect on air pollution once it surpasses a threshold value of 20,455.36. (3) This effect is found to be strengthened as the level of public concern increases. Lastly, it is noted that public environmental concern exhibits regional heterogeneity, which can be attributed to factors such as economic development and scientific and technological advancements. These factors influence the level of public environmental concern in different regions. The findings may be succinctly summarized as follows: geographical variations in public environmental concern can be attributed to the impact of economic growth and advancements in science and technology. Regional variability may arise from several sources, including economic growth, scientific and technical advancements, and other influences, all of which impact public environmental concerns.

Urban air pollution and emergency department visits for influenza

Abstract Introduction. There is a large body of research which suggests that air pollutants might affect infectious diseases, their transmission, severity, and a length of recovery. Aim. The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between ambient air pollution and emergency department (ED) visits for influenza and viral pneumonia in Toronto, Canada. Material and Methods. The National Ambulatory Care Reporting System database was used to drawn ED visits (4 282 days). Five ambient air pollutants: carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone (CO, NO2, SO2, O3, O3H8 – ozone as a maximum eight hour average, respectively), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were examined. In addition, the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI; combines NO2, O3, and PM2.5) was tested. Conditional Poisson models were constructed using daily counts of ED visits. Temperature and relative humidity in the models were represented by natural splines. Air pollutants and weather factors were lagged by 0 to 14 days. The analysis was done by strata of age group, sex, and two seasons. Results. In the period of the study, 26,200 ED visits were identified; 13,963 for females and 12,237 for males. For each air pollutant, 270 models were generated (18 strata × 15 lags). Ambient air pollution concentrations lagged by 10 and 11 days have the highest impact on ED visits, with 48 and 47 positive associations, respectively. Ozone has 181, sulphur dioxide has 104, and PM2.5 has 76 among the 417 total positive statistically significant (P-Value<0.05) associations. For all persons an increase (12.8 ppb) in ambient ozone lagged by 0, 1, and 2 days gives the following relative risks and their 95% confidence intervals 1.214 (1.135, 1.299), 1.200 (1.121, 1.284), and 1.179 (1.102, 1.263), respectively. Conclusion. The results suggest that exposures to urban ambient air pollution affect the number of ED visits for viral respiratory illness.

Air pollution and emergency department visits for urticaria

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The objective of this work was to investigate correlations between air pollution and emergency department (ED) visits for urticaria in Toronto, Canada. METHODS: The National Ambulatory Care Reporting System database was used to draw the diagnosed ED visits. The L50 section of the International Classification of Disease 10th Revision was used to extract ED visits whose primary causes of visit was urticaria-related conditions. Statistical models (Poisson regression) using daily counts of ED visits were created for urticaria, ambient air pollution concentrations, and weather factors. We considered two air quality health indexes and six ambient air pollutants for exposure: fine particulate matter PM2.5, O3, CO, NO2, SO2, and maximum 8-hour average ozone. RESULTS:A total of 176 statistically significant (P-Value 0.05) positive correlations were identified over the 14 day lag period. For ozone,74 positive correlations were observed with the following relative risks (RR) for one interquartile range (IQR=12.8 ppb) increase: RR=1.361 (95% confidence interval: 1.302, 1.404), 1.359 (1.299, 1.401), 1.351 (1.281, 1.404) in the warm season (April-September), lag 0, and RR=1.019 (1.013, 1.025), 1.023 (1.016, 1.030), 1.014 (1.007, 1.021), lag 1, in the cold period (October-March), for all, females, and males, respectively. 10, 45 and 45 positive correlations were also obtained for sulfur dioxide, fine particulate matter, and daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentrations, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The results indicate that urban ambient air pollution could influence the rates of ED visits for urticaria. Ambient ozone was determined as the main environmental factor contributing to these associations. KEYWORDS: Ozone, Traffic-related, Short-term exposure, Allergies

Air pollution and emergency department visits for disease of the digestive system

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The objective of this work was to investigate associations between air pollution and emergency department (ED) visits for diseases of the digestive system in Toronto, Canada. METHODS: The National Ambulatory Care Reporting System database was used to retrieve the cases of the diagnosed ED visits. The codes K00-K93 under Chapter XI: “Diseases of the digestive system” of the International Classification of Disease 10th Revision were applied to identify the corresponding ED visits. Only primary causes of ED visits were considered. The health data used in the study was organized as daily counts of ED visits, to which ambient air pollution and weather factors (temperature and relative humidity) were linked. Exposure to two air quality health indexes and six ambient air pollutants for exposure: fine particulate matter PM2.5, O3, CO, NO2, SO2, and maximum 8-hour average ozone was used. Statistical models were realized as conditional Poisson regressions. RESULTS:In total, 993,364 ED visits were analyzed as related to the digestive system. A total of 314 statistically significant (P-Value 0.05) positive correlations were obtained over the 14 day lag period (from 0 to 14 days). Majority of the positive associations occurred for lags from 0 to 4, and were in summary for all pollutants and strata 71, 46, 66, 25, and 35, respectively. For nitrogen dioxide, positive associations were noted with following relative risks (RR) for an increase of one interquartile range (IQR=8.8 ppb): RR= 1.032 (95% confidence interval: 1.025, 1.039), 1.013 (1.005, 1.020), 1.013 (1.006, 1.021), 1.008 (1.000, 1.015), and 1.008 (1.000, 1.015) for all patients and lags from 0 to 4 days, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The results indicate that urban ambient air pollution could influence the daily cases of ED visits for diseases of the digestive system. Ambient nitrogen dioxide was identified as the main environmental factor contributing to these associations. KEYWORDS: Digestive, Nitrogen dioxide, Traffic-related, Short-term exposure

Air pollution and emergency department visits for diseases of the musculoskeletal system, Toronto, Canada

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The objective of this study is to examine the associations between urban ambient air pollution and emergency department (ED) visits due to diseases of the musculoskeletal system in Toronto, Canada. METHODS: The National Ambulatory Care Reporting System database was used to retrieve health cases corresponding to these diseases using ICD-10 codes M00-M99.The studied period is April 2004 to December 2015 (4,292 days). Six air pollutants (fine particulate matter PM2.5, CO, NO2, SO2, ozone O3 as a daily average, ozone O3-8 hour, as a maximum eight hour average) and two indexes were considered. Conditional Poisson regression was applied to daily ED visit counts. Temperature and relative humidity were represented in the form of splines.The potential associations were analyzed by strata (sex, age group, and season: warm/cold) and for lagged concentrations (lag 0-14 days). RESULTS:691,703 ED visits were retrieved, among which 368,089 were female individuals, and 323,614 males. Among 2,160 tested models, 106 positive associations were statistically significant at P-Value0.05. Ozone concentration constituted 24 of the positive associations for exposures lagged by 1 and 8 or more days. Strong effects were obtained for same-day exposures to CO and NO2. Relative risk (RR) was reported for a one interquartile range (IQR) increase in the concentration of NO2 (IQR=8.8 ppb). For nitrogen dioxide RR=1.014 (95% confidence interval: 1.008, 1.020), RR=1.019 (1.011, 1.026), and RR=1.009 (1.002, 1.017) for all, female, and male patients, respectively. The values for CO (IQR=0.1 ppm) in 60+ individuals were: RR=1.013 (1.005, 1.021), RR=1.017 (1.007, 1.027), and RR=1.007 (0.995, 1.019), respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The results suggest that carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide concentrations can increase ED visit frequency particularly for same-day exposures. Ground-level ozone showed a delayed effect of one week. The most affected demographic out of those studied were older individuals, as reflected in their relative risk values. KEYWORDS: Air pollution, Exposures, Female, Traffic-related

A Mayor's Perspective on Tackling Air Pollution

Abstract We review recent empirical economic studies on urban ambient air pollution from a mayor’s perspective. We discuss the sources of urban air pollution, the economic costs that it imposes, and the policy tools available to a mayor to alleviate it. For economic costs, we briefly summarize traditional estimates of health and mortality costs and focus on more recent evidence on mental and psychological health, labor productivity and supply, avoidance behavior, willingness to pay for clean air and long-term (multi-decade) impacts. The policy tools we evaluate include pollution information disclosure, auto license and driving restrictions, congestion tolls, public transit investments, emission standards and controls, and gasoline taxes. We also discuss challenges posed by transboundary pollution across cities and the extent to which mayors’ incentives encourage tackling air pollution under different political systems. We briefly discuss possible future research agendas.

Air pollution and emergency department visits for urticaria

Abstract Introduction. This study investigates associations between air pollution and emergency department (ED) visits for urticaria in Toronto, Canada. Aim. To verify the hypothesis that urticaria are related to air pollution. Material and methods. The National Ambulatory Care Reporting System database is used to draw the daily ED visits. The L50 section of the International Classification of Disease 10th Revision is applied to extract ED visits whose primary causes was urticaria-related skin condition. Statistical models (condition Poisson regression) using daily counts of ED visits are constructed for urticaria (health response) with ambient air pollution concentrations and weather factors as independent variable. Two air quality health indexes and six ambient air pollutants: fine particulate matter PM2.5, O3, CO, NO2, SO2, and maximum 8-hour average ozone are considered as an exposure. Results. A total of 176 statistically significant (P-Value <0.05) positive correlations were identified over the 15 day lag period (0-14 days). For daily average of ambient ozone, 74 positive correlations were observed with the following relative risks (RR) for a one interquartile range (IQR=12.8 ppb) increase: RR=1.361 (95% confidence interval: 1.302, 1.404), 1.359 (1.299, 1.401), 1.351 (1.281, 1.404) in the warm season (April-September), lag 0, and RR=1.019 (1.013, 1.025), 1.023 (1.016, 1.030), 1.014 (1.007, 1.021), lag 1, in the cold period (October-March), for all, females, and males, respectively. 10, 45 and 45 positive correlations were also obtained for sulfur dioxide, fine particulate matter, and daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentrations, respectively. Conclusions. The results indicate that urban ambient air pollution could influence the numbers of ED visits for urticaria. Ambient ozone was determined as the main environmental factor contributing to these associations.

Air Pollution and Emergency Department Visits for Disease of the Genitourinary System.

The aim of this study is to determine associations between ambient air pollution and the number of emergency department (ED) visits for diseases of the genitourinary tract in Toronto, Canada. We used the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) database to obtain the related ED visits and developed statistical models using daily data on ED visits, temperature, relative humidity, and outdoor air pollution concentration levels. The NACRS database contains data on hospital-based and community-based ambulatory care. The environmental data were retrieved from the National Air Pollution Surveillance (NAPS) program. The NAPS is the main source of ambient air quality data in Canada. We considered 2 air quality health indexes and 6 air pollutants: daily means of fine particulate matter PM2.5, O3, CO, NO2, SO2, and also maximum 8-hour average ozone. For every air pollutant, we fit 270 models (15 lags × 18 strata). We found that same-day air pollution concentrations have the highest number of statistically significantly positive associations with ED visits for genitourinary health outcomes. A total of 133 positive associations were identified over the 14 days lag. In subgroup (strata) analysis, females older than 60 years of age were found to have the most positive associations. In particular, nitrogen dioxide was found to be highly associated with ED visits for females over 60; an increase in NO2 was associated with an increased relative risk (RR) of ED visits when lagged over 0, 1, and 2 days (RR = 1.040 [95% confidence interval: 1.028, 1.052], 1.020 [1.009, 1.032], and 1.025 [1.013, 1.036], respectively). The values of risks are reported for a 1 interquartile range increase in concentration (8.8 ppb). Our results suggest that urban ambient air pollution affect the number of ED visits due to genitourinary system conditions.

Urban Ambient Air Pollution and Behavioural Disorders

Urban ambient air pollution is identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality. There is growing evidence suggesting associations between air pollution and a wide range of additional negative health conditions. The existing literature supports the association between exposure to ambient air pollutants and brain health. Among such reported effects are increased incidence of neurological and psychiatric disorders including cognitive decline, anxiety, depression, drug abuse, and suicide.

Personal exposure to air pollutants in a Bus Rapid Transit System: Impact of fleet age and emission standard

This work documents the extremely high concentrations of fine aerosol particles (PM2.5), equivalent black carbon (eBC) and carbon monoxide (CO) experienced by commuters in one of the world largest Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, located in Bogotá, Colombia. A strong relationship between vehicle emissions standard and in-vehicle concentrations was established. Extensive measurements of PM2.5, eBC, and CO were carried out inside the system buses and stations. Measurements were performed during eleven months covering all the system lanes and a significant fraction of the bus fleet and stations. Based on the observed in-bus and in-station concentrations, travel times, and urban ambient levels, the contribution of a typical round trip in the BRT system to the daily inhaled dose was estimated to be 60% for PM2.5, and between 79% and 90% for eBC. The mean PM2.5 dose inhaled by commuters in a typical round trip in the system is 1.2 times the dose a subject would inhale over 24 h exposed to WHO guideline of 25 μgm−3. In 52 out of 180 buses sampled the mean in-cabin concentration of eBC was in excess of 100 μgm−3. Measurements show that mean ratio of in-bus to urban ambient concentration is 8:1 for PM2.5 and 4:1 for CO. These ratios were observed to be much larger when traveling inside the older fraction of the BRT fleet, reaching 11:1 and 7:1 for PM2.5 and CO respectively. These older buses consist exclusively of Euro II and Euro III nominal emission standard vehicles. Average exposure levels inside Euro II and III buses was twice as large as those measured inside vehicles with stricter emission standards, Euro IV or superior. Overall, the measurements suggest that the entrainment of polluted pockets of air to the semi enclosed micro-environments in the system, namely, buses and stations, explains the extreme observed exposure concentrations. Measurements inside an underground bus-station where traffic is restricted to only BRT buses, and on-board a zero emission fully electric BRT bus suggested most of the pollution in the system comes from entrainment of the exhaust of the diesel-powered BRT buses. The significantly lower exposure and inhaled dose of PM2.5, eBC, and CO observed for commuters in newer vehicles suggests that a fleet renewal could have a disproportionately large impact on reducing population exposure to air pollutants. The extent of the reduction in exposure and inhaled dose through fleet renewal is proportional to the gradient of in-bus to urban ambient air pollution levels.

Assessment of Hydrophobic Coating on Porous Calcareous Rocks Surface Exposed in Urban Ambient Air Pollution

Urban air quality has changed rapidly in recent years, that requiring new research focused on the effects of pollution, both on the environment and on human health, as well as on apparent changes in building surfaces, including historical ones. As is known, permanent exposure to the atmosphere in the urban environment causes degradation processes on the surfaces of natural stone monuments, especially on porous stone surfaces. In these investigations were used samples of porous calcareous rocks similar to the natural stone from the many historical monuments of the Iasi city - Romania. These samples were coating with various commercially hydrophobic solutions. Further, these samples were exposed in the immediate vicinity of a historical monument and an intense road traffic junction. After about six months of exposure, apparent changes in the treated surfaces were compared with untreated control surfaces but subjected to the same environmental conditions over the same time period in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the hydrophobic treatment.

Clearing the air

Ninety-eight per cent of cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants in low and middle income countries do not meet World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines, concludes the WHO Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database 2016 update. In high-income countries, however, that percentage decreases to 56 per cent. In South Asia, air pollution is especially acute in such countries as China, Indonesia and India, requiring State authorities to take immediate action to safeguard the health of their citizens. Long-term health effects include respiratory diseases like lung cancer and even damage to the brain and an increased risk of heart disease. A WHO study estimated that about 12.6 million deaths in the year 2012 could be linked to an unhealthy environment. India's Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 defines air pollution as “the presence in the atmosphere of any air pollutant” and an air pollutant as “any solid, liquid or gaseous substance including noise present in the atmosphere in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to human beings or other living creatures or plants or property or environment.”

Czy smog ma wpływ na częstość występowania zaostrzeń przewlekłego zapalenia krtani? Analiza na przykładzie mieszkańców województwa małopolskiego.

Due to dynamic industrialisation smog became a frequent phenomenon in most developing cities. According to the last WHO report from Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database, Krakow has been classified in the 11th place among the most polluted cities in Europe. It seems to be an urgent issue because of the influence of air pollution on the condition of upper respiratory tract. Materials & Methods: In December 2015 there were 141 patients aged 17-91 years with upper respiratory tract diseases admitted to the phoniatric outpatient clinic in the University Hospital in Cracow. They suffered from cough, hoarseness and periodic aphonia. On the basis of the results of videolaryngostroboscopy 60 patients with exacerbation of the chronic laryngitis were selected into two numerically equal groups: from Cracow and from other places at least 60 km away. The groups were equal to each other also in three categories: sex, age and voice usage. The patients were referred to the Pedagogical University in Cracow for laryngography to evaluate the movement of the vocal folds and to trace a voice profile. Finally, there were two possible types of treatment - conventional pharmacotherapy or subterraneotherapy in the underground Health Resort in the "Wieliczka" Salt Mine. Pearson correlation coefficient between the distance from the place of residence to Cracow and the scale of exacerbation of inflammation of upper respiratory tract presenting as vocal fold dysfunction was observed (r= 0,617; p<0,05). The place of residence (in or out of the industrial area) and exacerbations of chronic laryngitis are highly correlated. Air pollution seems to be the main factor influencing on the condition of upper respiratory tract. In our local conditions of Lesser Poland Voivodeship subterraneotherapy may be an interesting, non-invasive method preventing from exacerbations of upper respiratory tract diseases.

Carcinogenicity of Petroleum to the Aero Digestive Tract

The rapid urbanization and industrialization has brought about remarkable changes in our world but on the other hand this has drastically affected human health. The incidence of numerous diseases, including cancers have grown manifold in the last few decades itself, and the occurrences of aero digestive cancers have also shown a surge. This can be linked directly to the deteriorating air quality. The petroleum refining industry and the combustion of petrochemical fuels is the largest contributor to this increasing urban ambient air pollution and is now known to be carcinogenic. Chronic exposures to the various carcinogenic pollutants, from outdoor and indoor air pollution have diverse effects on the delicate epithelium of aero digestive tract and have been strongly linked to aero digestive tract cancers. With the revelation of these facts, more emphasis must be paid to curbing the problem of air pollution while also promoting the use of renewable energy and clean energy sources. Keywords: Aero digestive Cancers; Carcinogens; Petroleum; Pollution

Problems of protection of urban ambient air pollution from industrial dust emissions

The development of large cities accompanied by the development of the industry hashistorically led to the fact that now residential areas are located side by side with the industrial production. For instance, exactly this situation has developed in the city of Volgograd, as well as in other Russian cities, where sometimes the distance from large enterprises to a living area is 100 m or less. In addition, small-scale entrepreneurs usually place their production directly in their past places of residence. As a result, the content of harmful substances in the air of city blocks is much higher than the standards of hygiene require. It is obvious that the current situation can be improved through the use of modern, more advanced technologies. However, increasing the efficiency of air systems to protect the city from pollution and industrial emissions is an urgent task. The authors propose a version of the system layout, designed to reduce dust emissions in urban air.

Air Pollution Particulate Matter Exposure Modulates Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Host Immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb)

Abstract Epidemiological studies indicate that indoor air pollution exposure increases susceptibility to M.tb infection and Tuberculosis (TB) development. Recently, we demonstrated that diesel exhaust particles and urban air pollution particulate matter (PM) impair human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and respiratory epithelial cell (A549) innate immune responses to M.tb via downregulation of TLR-dependent cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β IL-6, TNF-α), and antimicrobial peptides, respectively. Here we examined effects of real-world-derived air pollution PM from Iztapalapa, a municipality with high prevalence of air pollution and TB in Mexico City on innate and adaptive human immune responses to M.tb. Cytotoxic and inflammatory PBMC responses were examined upon exposure to PM2.5 (<2.5μm diameter) and PM10 (<10μm) from rainy, cold-dry and warm-dry weather seasons. PBMC from IGRA+ (immunodiagnostic evidence of M.tb exposure) and IGRA- donors were exposed for 20 hours to PM at 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/mL followed by additional 20-hour M.tb exposure. A PM dose-dependent inhibition of IFN-γ production was observed in M.tb-infected PBMC from IGRA+ but not IGRA- donors. Furthermore, the size range of PM, but not their seasonal source, affected the M.tb-induced IFN-γ production. No PM dose-dependent inhibition of IL-1β production was observed in M.tb-infected PBMC from either IGRA+ or IGRA− donors. PM10 from cold-dry and warm-dry seasons at high concentration caused cytotoxicity. This data suggests that urban ambient air pollution PM exposure (1) modulates M.tb-induced adaptive immune responses (suppression of IFN-γ but not IL-1β production in IGRA+ donors) and (2) potentially alters M.tb infection outcomes. Funding NIEHS 5R01ES020382-05

Constructing a Near Real‐time Space‐time Cube to Depict Urban Ambient Air Pollution Scenario

AbstractThis study adopts a near real‐time space‐time cube approach to portray a dynamic urban air pollution scenario across space and time. Originating from time geography, space‐time cubes provide an approach to integrate spatial and temporal air pollution information into a 3D space. The base of the cube represents the variation of air pollution in a 2D geographical space while the height represents time. This way, the changes of pollution over time can be described by the different component layers of the cube from the base up. The diurnal ambient ozone (O3) pollution in Houston, Texas is modeled in this study using the space‐time air pollution cube. Two methods, land use regression (LUR) modeling and spatial interpolation, were applied to build the hourly component layers for the air pollution cube. It was found that the LUR modeling performed better than the spatial interpolation in predicting air pollution level. With the availability of real‐time air pollution data, this approach can be extended to produce real‐time air pollution cube is for more accurate air pollution measurement across space and time, which can provide important support to studies in epidemiology, health geography, and environmental regulation.

SHORT-TERM EFFECT OF FINE PARTICULATE MATTER (PM 2.5 ) AND OZONE ON DAILY MORTALITY IN LISBON, PORTUGAL

Aim: Determine the exposure-response relationships of ambient ozone and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations on daily mortality in Lisbon. Abstract: Urban ambient air pollution exposures ...

Short-term effect of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone on daily mortality in Lisbon, Portugal

Urban ambient air pollution exposures continue to be a global public health concern. Although air quality targets are often exceeded in Lisbon, the largest city in Portugal, there is currently no study that has assessed the quantitative impact of these pollutants on daily mortality. In this study, we conduct a time series analysis using generalized additive modeling to determine the exposure-response effect from ambient ozone (O(3)) and fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) concentrations on daily mortality in Lisbon. The dataset used was limited to the Lisbon municipality and for the period 2004-2006. For PM(2.5) exposures, we found that the relative risk for cardiovascular mortality in the population group ≥ 65 years is 2.39% (95%C.I. 1.29%, 3.50%) for each 10 μg/m(3) increase. A statistically significant cause-effect relationship for PM(2.5) and mortality was not observed in other population groups. We also report O(3) exposures to be associated with an increase of 1.11% (95%C.I. (0.58, 1.64)) for all-cause mortality in the population group ≥ 65 years and an increase of 0.96% (95%C.I. (0.56, 1.35)) for the general population. When analyzing by cause of death, our results showed a stronger association between O(3) exposure and cardiovascular mortality.

Transboundary air pollution and environmental justice: Vancouver and Seattle compared

This paper comparatively analyzes the association between urban neighborhood socioeconomic markers and ambient air pollution in Vancouver and Seattle, the two largest urban regions in the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound (GB-PS) international airshed. Given their similarities and common airshed, Vancouver and Seattle are useful comparators addressing not only whether socioeconomic gradients exist in urban environmental quality but also identifying clues to differences in these gradients between Canadian and American cities. Large air quality sampling campaigns and pollution regression mapping provide the pollution data, in this case nitrogen dioxide—a marker of traffic emissions considered the most important air pollutant for human health in the typical North American city. Pollution data are combined with neighborhood census data for regression and spatial analyses. Median household income is the most consistent correlate of air pollution in both cities, including their most polluted neighborhoods, although neighborhoods marked by immigrant populations do not correlate with high pollution levels in Vancouver as they do in Seattle.