Analysis and assessment of vehicular traffic influence effects on urban area inhabitants’ health

Aim of project
The aim of the project is to demonstrate that vehicular traffic and traffic jams have great, definitely negative influence on the municipal environment and on human health. In the project, particular attention will be paid to: identification of vehicular traffic density and traffic-related air pollutants emission in the profi le of selected busy roads,

traffic-related air pollutants concentration measurement in the same profiles,

determination, by lung ventilation efficiency examination, of the intensity of traffic-related air pollutants influence on the health of people living in the direct vicinity of heavily-trafficked roads.

This project is the continuation of the investigations started by Artur Badyda as part of his Ph.D. dissertation. On the basis of spirometric tests, statistical significance between residence in the proximity of busy roads and morbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk was indicated.

The investigation will currently be expanded on the other areas of Warsaw (Poland). The main thesis of the project is that intensive traffic, especially in the conditions of traffic jams, has negative chronic influence on health condition of city inhabitants living in the vicinity of main roads.

There will be an attempt to quantify health risk of traffic-related air pollutants.

Expected results
It is expected that the investigation results will provide unarguable arguments indicating the necessity of quick and effective modification of urban area transport systems (probably regional transport systems as well and ring roads of large cities), in the way that will minimize the adverse influence of vehicular traffic on the municipal environment, especially on the city center inhabitants’ health.