Air Pollution and Traffic Exhaust

Traffic exhaust is  a major source of air pollution in California, especially in urban areas, and is a major contributor to greenhouse gases. Traffic exhaust pollutants include compounds such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates (fine dust and soot), also called "criteria" air pollutants, and a wide range of toxic air pollutants such as benzene or PAHs.  Potential health effects from being exposed to traffic exhaust pollutants include respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease, adverse reproductive or pregnancy outcomes, cancer, and shortening of the life span.

EHIB has examined health effects as well as issues of environmental justice in terms of who lives near busy roads.

Research Papers

• Residential proximity to traffic and female pubertal development (2016).
• A systematic review and meta-analysis of multiple airborne pollutants and autism spectrum disorder (2016).
  
• Particulate matter exposure, prenatal and postnatal windows of susceptibility, and autism spectrum disorders (2014).
• Residential exposure to traffic and spontaneous abortion (2009).
• Environmental contaminants and pregnancy outcomes (2008).
• Autism spectrum disorders in relation to distribution of hazardous air pollutants in the San Francisco Bay Area (2006).   
  
• Questions and answers about a study of autism and hazardous air pollutants.
  Residential exposure to traffic in California and childhood cancer (2004).
  Traffic density in California: socioeconomic and ethnic differences among potentially exposed children (2003). ​​
  
• Traffic patterns and childhood cancer incidence rates in California (2002).