Land use and pollution issues on SCAT

Ellin Reisner and Wig Zamore of STEP, along with Rep. Denise Provost, appeared on "Talking About Somerville" on Somerville Community Access Television in a talk about land use, transportation, and vehicle pollution. The engaging discussion was facilitated by Bob Nesson, also a member of STEP.
Watch the video.

Wig Zamore's remarks to the EPA on Particulate Matter

STEP's Wig Zamore spoke to the EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee and Particulate Matter (PM) Panel last Friday, where the topic was the proposed EPA framework for the next national PM standard setting process.

Identification: My name is Wig Zamore. I speak as a concerned citizen and live in Somerville, Massachusetts where I work with two all volunteer community groups, the Mystic View Task Force and Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership. I also serve on regional land use and transportation planning committees, have presented to the Massachusetts Clean Air (SIP) Steering Committee and represent the City of Somerville on Mass DPH and FAA committees concerned with airport related emissions, health and noise impacts.

Major PM Review Concern: My overwhelming concern is consideration of the impacts of large regional transportation systems on adjacent neighborhoods' health, including but not limited to chronic mortality impacts from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease and lung cancer. And how this gets into your framework as the methods for that are unclear.

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Study: Traffic pollution and exercise risks

"Study: Pollution Raises Exercise Risks"
"People with heart disease may want to steer clear of heavy traffic when exercising or simply take their workout indoors to avoid breathing polluted air."

Connecting near-highway pollutants with health problems

A new article on the health risks of near-highway pollution is available from a team at Tufts. From the conclusion: "The most susceptible (and overlooked) population in the US subject to serious health effects from air pollution may be those who live very near major regional transportation routes, especially highways."

Boston Now: "Tufts researchers warning it can be dangerous to live near highways"
"One California study indicated children who live near a highway from under the age of two may be 70 to 80 percent more likely to develop asthma."

Read the original article: "Near-highway pollutants in motor vehicle exhaust: A review of epidemiologic evidence of cardiac and pulmonary health risks."

Cancer risk tied to railway pollution

NPR reported on "Railways' Toxic Emissions Tied to Higher Cancer Risk".

More plane noise and pollution over Somerville

Think you've heard more planes overhead recently? You're right. Data shows that takeoffs from runway 33L, which come up the Mystic River and then turn over Somerville and Cambridge, are way up. In 2006, 33L accounted for 7% of all takeoffs. Now it's 24%, an increase of 243% year over year.

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Hearing on the health effects of particulate matter

This morning there was a hearing on a bill sponsored by Denise Provost that would explore the health effects of particulate matter, which is suspended particles in tailpipe exhaust. House Bill 2227 would have the Department of Public Health conduct a study on the health effects of this type of pollution, including mapping the distribution and concentration of particulate matter aorund high-traffic roadways and rail lines.

A growing body of scientific evidence links high exposure to particulates to substantially increased risks of pulmonary disease - including COPD and lung cancer - and cardiovascular disease - including heart attack and stroke. Men and women living close to major roads are at increased risk of premature death. Children growing up near highways often suffer impaired lung function, are more likely to develop asthma, and suffer more asthma attacks.

Study on air pollution and women's health

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found very high increases in mortality among older women exposed to local fine particle pollution.
Boston Globe: "Air pollution raises women's heart disease risk, says study"
The study: "Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollution and Incidence of Cardiovascular Events in Women"

Study on highway pollution and children's health

A new study piles more evidence on the dangers of local highway pollution on children's health, specifically lung impairment of those who grow up close to highways.
LA Times: "Freeways' tainted air harms children's lungs, experts say"
The Guardian: "Living near a motorway damages children's lungs, research reveals"

Map shows where roadway pollution is dangerous

View map

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council 2007 Calendar features a map with the following text...

Heavy Traffic Affects Air Quality and Health
If you live, work or attend school within 100 yards of a roadway carrying 100,000 or more vehicles per day, you are more likely to suffer from cardiac or pulmonary disease.

According to local and national studies, this tendency is linked to traffic-related air pollutants. Health risks associated with traffic pollutants are greater for young and old people and for those with permanent health conditions. Some states have begun to pass laws to protect their citizens. California state law restricts the siting of new schools within 500 feet of a freeway or an urban roadway with 50,000 vehicles or more per day. The California Air Resources Board recommends caution before siting residences, day care centers, playgrounds, or medical facilities within those same distances.

This map shows roadways and intersections in the MAPC region that exceed 100,000 vehicles per day and those that exceed 50,000 vehicles per day. The map could help policy-makers formulate measures to protect the state's most vulnerable citizens."