Mobilizing Evidence: Activating Change on Traffic-Related Air Pollution (TRAP) Health Impacts

The document outlines the wide-ranging health risks associated with traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), noting that in Canada, one-third of the population lives within 250m of a major road. It highlights that children, racialized people, and those in poverty are disproportionately vulnerable to these pollutants. The report links TRAP to respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, and pregnancy-related illnesses, as well as increased COVID-19 risks, and recommends policy interventions such as low emission zones, electric vehicles, and expanded urban green spaces.

• Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is linked to a broad spectrum of health issues across various organ systems, including respiratory diseases (COPD, bronchitis), cardiovascular outcomes (hypertension, myocardial infarction), neurological impacts (neurocognitive decline), pregnancy-related outcomes (congenital abnormalities, infertility), and certain cancers such as lung, leukemia, and breast cancer. It is also associated with diabetes, obesity, dermatological outcomes, and mental health issues resulting from traffic noise.
• Exposure to TRAP is not distributed equally, creating environmentally-driven health disparities. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable due to their respiratory and immune system immaturity and higher breathing rates relative to body size. Additionally, poverty, socioeconomic marginalization, and racialization are linked to disproportionately high concentrations of TRAP and greater barriers to healthcare access.
• In Canada, one-third of the population resides within 250m of a major road, increasing their potential for elevated exposure to TRAP. Research indicates that pollutant concentrations can remain elevated within 50-500m of major roads and other major emission sources, depending on factors like terrain, wind, and land use.
• There is a documented intersection between air pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic, with evidence suggesting that TRAP increases the transmission, infection, and mortality risk associated with COVID-19.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2022). Mobilizing Evidence: Activating Change on Traffic-Related Air Pollution (TRAP) Health Impacts. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CAPE-TRAP-En-Summ-1.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Mobilizing Evidence: Activating Change on Traffic-Related Air Pollution (TRAP) Health Impacts. 2022. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CAPE-TRAP-En-Summ-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Mobilizing Evidence: Activating Change on Traffic-Related Air Pollution (TRAP) Health Impacts |date=April 2022 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CAPE-TRAP-En-Summ-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2022mobilizing, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Mobilizing Evidence: Activating Change on Traffic-Related Air Pollution (TRAP) Health Impacts}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2022}, month = apr, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CAPE-TRAP-En-Summ-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }