Mobiliser les preuves ACTIVER LE CHANGEMENT SUR LES IMPACTS SANITAIRES DE LA POLLUTION ATMOSPHÉRIQUE LIÉE AU TRAFIC (PALT)

The report synthesizes scientific evidence on the wide-ranging health impacts of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), emphasizing its disproportionate effect on marginalized populations and its role in exacerbating COVID-19. It advocates for decisive policy, legislative, and regulatory interventions to reduce emissions and protect public health.

• Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is associated with a broad spectrum of health issues across the lifespan, including reduced lung function, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, neurocognitive decline, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and various cancers.
• In Canada, approximately one-third of the population lives within 250 meters of a major road, increasing their susceptibility to TRAP-related health risks.
• Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable to TRAP due to their higher breathing rates relative to size and the immaturity of their respiratory and immune systems.
• There is a causal link between long-term TRAP exposure and reduced lung function, as well as the prevalence and incidence of asthma in both children and adults in Canada.
• TRAP exposure is strongly linked to cardiovascular issues, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, and myocardial infarction; traffic noise can act as an independent or modifying risk factor for heart disease.
• Long-term TRAP exposure is associated with neurocognitive decline in adults and elderly populations, as well as an increased risk of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
• Prenatal and early-life exposure to TRAP is linked to neurodevelopmental issues, including higher rates of ADHD, inattention, lower IQ scores, and delays in neurobehavioral development.
• Maternal exposure to TRAP is associated with adverse birth outcomes, most notably low birth weight, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth.
• Diesel engine exhaust is identified as carcinogenic to humans and is directly linked to the development of lung cancer.
• TRAP exposure is linked to an increased risk of leukemia, particularly in children and adolescents, and is also associated with breast cancer, especially in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
• Long-term TRAP exposure is associated with the onset of diabetes and reduced survival for those already living with the disease.
• Environmental health disparities exist in Canada, where people of low socioeconomic status and racialized populations face disproportionately higher exposure to TRAP and greater barriers to healthcare.
• Air pollution, including TRAP, is linked to increased rates of COVID-19 infection, higher transmission risks, and increased mortality, potentially because pollutants act as vectors for the virus.
• Pandemic-related restrictions led to substantial reductions in most TRAP pollutants, although tropospheric ozone concentrations increased due to the weakening of NOx titration.
• Effective prevention and protection measures include improving building and vehicle ventilation, expanding active transport infrastructure, increasing urban green spaces, and implementing pollution control policies such as low-emission zones and electric vehicle use.
• Individual protective measures, such as using respiratory filter masks and increasing dietary intake of antioxidants, can help mitigate the health effects of TRAP.

APA

Roussy, S. S., Kuhl, J., Burnside, J. N., McArthur, J. E., & Helferty, A. (2022). Mobiliser les preuves ACTIVER LE CHANGEMENT SUR LES IMPACTS SANITAIRES DE LA POLLUTION ATMOSPHÉRIQUE LIÉE AU TRAFIC (PALT). Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CAPE-PALT-2022-1.pdf

Chicago

Roussy, Sophia Scott, Jennifer Kuhl, Jessica Nicole Burnside, Jane E. McArthur, and Anjali Helferty. Mobiliser les preuves ACTIVER LE CHANGEMENT SUR LES IMPACTS SANITAIRES DE LA POLLUTION ATMOSPHÉRIQUE LIÉE AU TRAFIC (PALT). Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, 2022. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CAPE-PALT-2022-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Roussy |first1=Sophia Scott |last2=Kuhl |first2=Jennifer |last3=Burnside |first3=Jessica Nicole |last4=McArthur |first4=Jane E. |last5=Helferty |first5=Anjali |title=Mobiliser les preuves ACTIVER LE CHANGEMENT SUR LES IMPACTS SANITAIRES DE LA POLLUTION ATMOSPHÉRIQUE LIÉE AU TRAFIC (PALT) |publisher=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |date=April 2022 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CAPE-PALT-2022-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{roussy2022mobiliser, author = {Roussy, Sophia Scott and Kuhl, Jennifer and Burnside, Jessica Nicole and McArthur, Jane E. and Helferty, Anjali}, title = {{Mobiliser les preuves ACTIVER LE CHANGEMENT SUR LES IMPACTS SANITAIRES DE LA POLLUTION ATMOSPHÉRIQUE LIÉE AU TRAFIC (PALT)}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2022}, month = apr, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CAPE-PALT-2022-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }