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Kids Breathe Like Smokers Near Roads
23 Feb
Summary
- Children near busy roads inhale pollution like eight cigarettes daily.
- Traffic pollution costs Australia $6.2 billion annually.
- Heavy trucks and buses cause a quarter of exhaust pollution.
Air pollution from heavy vehicles like trucks and buses incurs an annual cost of approximately $6.2 billion for Australia due to adverse health effects. Researchers highlight that this figure represents only the most severe health impacts and is likely an underestimation of the true cost.
The study reveals that children in some childcare centers near major roads are exposed to pollution levels comparable to smoking eight cigarettes a day. This finding raises significant concerns for parents and public health advocates.
Recommendations include integrating health impacts into heavy vehicle law decisions, removing older, high-polluting trucks, and shifting freight to rail or cleaner transport options. Accelerating the transition to electric and cleaner trucks and buses is also crucial.
