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BRIEFING Transportation Association of Canada Association Des Transports Du Canada July 2004

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BRIEFING Transportation Association of Canada Association Des Transports Du Canada July 2004 BRIEFING Transportation Association of Canada Association des transports du Canada July 2004 URBAN TRANSPORTATION AND AIR QUALITY In 1993, the TAC Urban Transportation Council published a Briefing entitled A NEW VISION FOR URBAN TRANS- PORTATION. This Briefing proposes a 30-year generic vision for Canadian urban areas that can be tailored to fit to local conditions. The vision is supported by 13 decision-making principles that point the way to a more desirable future1. (Superscript numbers refer to endnotes on Page 8.) The vision calls for significant change from past practices in respect to land use, the role of private automobiles, and transportation funding. Since the publication of A NEW VISION FOR URBAN TRANSPORTATION, TAC has developed several Briefings that elaborate this document’s specific recommendations. This Briefing addresses, in part, the twelfth of the decision- making principles: “Ensure that urban transportation decisions protect and enhance the environment”. Urban transpor- tation and its impacts on air quality are issues that transcend political boundaries and require public and private cooperation to secure significant improvement. AIR QUALITY IS A MAJOR URBAN ISSUE… Introduction tion through an ‘air quality lens’ and suggests ways to reduce or eliminate components that lead to poor air qual- During the last 50 years, Canada’s urban areas have grown ity. considerably in population and, even more, in size. Em- ployment opportunities, immigration, and economic de- Elected officials at all orders of government as well as velopment have all contributed to an increased concen- representatives of business and non-government organi- tration of activity in urban areas. Now, 80% of Canadians zations can bring about change by incorporating air-qual- work and live in communities with a population of more ity considerations in their decision-making processes. than 10,000 people. The growth in urban areas has numerous social, eco- Ground-level ozone (Average peak concentration at nomic and environmental benefits, but it is not without monitoring stations in Canada, in parts per million) problems, one of which is poor air quality. Unlike other urban problems such as vehicle collisions, noise and traf- 130 Ontario, Quebec, Atlantic fic congestion, the impacts of poor air quality are often 110 Western provinces difficult to grasp. Yet, as in the case of these other is- 90 sues, poor air quality has significant social, economic, and environmental impacts. 70 50 The Need for a Briefing Level of Canada-wide standard* When air quality becomes a matter for public discus- 30 sion, the role of transportation is inevitably raised. Some 10 types of urban transportation are seen as worsening the 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 problem while others are identified as more positive. In addition to raising the awareness and understanding of Source: Environment Canada, Canada’s National Environmental Indicators Series 2003 - Urban Air Quality air quality issues, this Briefing looks at urban transporta- Urban Transportation Council 1 Conseil des transports urbains AIR POLLUTION HAS A DIRECT EFFECT ON THE HEALTH OF CANADIANS… Effects of Air Quality “The are strong links between air pollution and health The effects of air emissions are well documented. They problems, especially for the elderly, children and for include climate change, air pollution, and smog, with re- those with respiratory and cardiac problems. A large sulting acid rain, loss of agricultural productivity, reduced number of studies, including some from the Govern- visibility, and human health effects. Air quality has been ment of Canada, the Ontario Medical Association and a concern in urban areas for more than a century. The the Toronto Public Health Department show that air impacts of air pollution on human health include eye, pollution can lead to premature death, increased hos- nose, and throat irritation, reduced lung capacity, aggra- pital admissions, more emergency room visits and vation of respiratory diseases, cancer, and premature higher rates of absenteeism.” death. Source: Environment Canada Website www.ec.gc.ca/air The impacts of air emissions vary significantly by the type of pollutant. At the broad level, air emissions are generally classified into two categories. One includes In recent years, particulate matter has received in- emissions that have globally acting impacts. The most creased attention because of its severe and lasting im- important of these cause global warming and other pacts on human health, particularly in children and the changes in climate and are often referred to as Green- elderly. Fine particulates (PM2.5) in tailpipe emissions house Gas Emissions (GHGs). The other category of contribute to breathing problems and lung damage while emissions includes those that have locally acting im- larger particulates (PM10), generated from road dust and pacts, notably poor urban air quality. Emissions contrib- tire wear, are responsible for reduced visibility, degrada- uting to poor air quality are often referred to as Criteria tion of materials, and impacts to vegetation. Air Contaminants (CACs). They include Total Particu- The focus of this Briefing is on air emissions as they late Matter (TPM), Particulate Matter with a diameter less pertain to urban air quality. The issues of global warming than 10 microns (PM10), Particulate Matter with a diam- and the reduction of GHGs have been addressed in previ- eter less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), Carbon Monoxide (CO), ous TAC briefings (see A PRIMER ON URBAN TRANS- Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Sulphur Oxides SOx, and Volatile PORTATION AND GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, May Organic Compounds (VOCs). 1998), and in numerous reports prepared as part of Canada’s National Climate Change Process. Major Impacts on Human Health and the Environment of Common Pollutants Associated with Vehicle Use Emissions Health impacts Environmental impacts Nitrogen oxides (NOX) include nitric • NO2 is a lung irritant at high concen- • NO2 reacts with water to form nitric acid oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), trations, may lead to depression of the (HNO3), an element of acid rain. which is formed from the oxidation of NO. immune system, with children and the • NO2 contributes to the formation of ground- elderly being at risk. level ozone, is associated with suppressed vegetation growth andcontributes to the corrosion of metals and degradation of various materials. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas produced • Reduces the ability of the blood to carry • CO may contribute to the formation of by the incomplete combustion of organic oxygen. ground-level ozone. materials. Volatile Organic compounds (VOCs) • Many individual VOCs (e.g., benzene) are • Contributes to the formation of ground-level are a chemically diverse group of known to have or are suspected of having ozone. compounds that have at least one human health effects ranging from carbon atom. carcinogenicity to neurotoxicity. Ozone (O3) is formed from the reaction • Associated with changes in lung function, • Reduces agricultural productivity and the of NOX, VOCs, and sunlight. decreased immune function, and possibly growth rate of trees. the development of chronic lung disease. Particulate Matter (PM10) is produced • Associated with Increased respiratory • PM deposition on vegetation reduces photo- from road dust and tire wear. infections, reduced breathing capacity, synthesis; it also contributes to degradation and potentially cancer. of materials and reduced visibility. Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) is • Can cause breathing and respiratory • Not yet well investigated, but likely to be produced from direct tailpipe emissions symptoms, irritation, inflammation and found to cause health impacts in several as well as the reaction of various damage to the lungs and premature species and the same environmental pollutants in the atmosphere. deaths. impacts as PM10. Source: Adapted from Environment Canada Fact Sheet 93-1 and Environment Canada Clean Air website http://www.ec.gc.ca/air/introduction_e.html Urban Transportation Council Conseil des transports urbains 2 TRANSPORTATION IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO POOR AIR QUALITY… Transportation and Air Quality “Automobiles produce approximately half the pollut- There are many factors that contribute to air pollution in ants that combine to form ground-level ozone, the urban areas including electricity generation, industrial main ingredient in smog. In summer, smog can dam- processes, building heating systems, and transportation. age vegetation and have adverse effects on human The burning of fossil fuels in motor vehicles is among the health.” most significant contributors to air pollution. Transporta- Source: Environment Canada tion is the largest contributor to emissions of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides (NOx) and a major con- tributor to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). In sun- Contribution by Mode light, NOx and VOCs react to form ground-level ozone, the main component of smog. Transportation also pro- When measured in terms of emissions per passenger- duces particulate matter, a component of smog and a kilometre, a measure that allows comparisons across cause of respiratory and breathing problems. modes, passenger cars emit nearly three times as much CO2 and NOx as a standard urban bus assuming typical load factors. Even at load factors as low as six passen- Contribution of Transportation to Air Emissions (1995) gers per bus, a bus consumes less fuel and produces fewer emissions per passenger-kilometre than a
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