Transportation and Health Part II

Transportation deals with environmental health in many ways. One of the most obvious ways is that traffic creates noise. Noise also creates problems. Noise pollution can easily cause stress and frustration for individuals. One of the major consequences to traffic noise is disturbed sleep. Not only can it be more difficult for an individual to fall asleep with a lot of traffic noise, but quality of sleep also decreases. Lack of sleep can cause fatigue, depression, and decreased performance. Traffic noise can interfere with memory, attention, and focus. Studies have shown that an increase in background noise decreases the ability for a person to solve analytical problems. Other studies show that aggression increases as noise increases. Aggression and stress can lead to heart disease and hypertension. Some noise pollution can cause hearing impairment. Overall, traffic noise is annoying and people go to great lengths to reduce their exposure to it.

A major environmental health issue dealing with traffic is air quality. According to a major study, traffic increases the amount of “particulate matter” in the air, which leads to “increased mortality, increased admissions to hospital for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, increased frequency of respiratory symptoms and use of medication by people with asthma, and reduced lung function.” Vehicle exhaust also has health consequences. Studies have found carcinogens in diesel engine exhaust and have found higher rates of cancer among people who work around exhaust fumes. Vehicle exhaust also has a detrimental affect on our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a well-known air pollutant that is reported to be one of the major causes of climate change on Earth.

Hundreds and thousands of deaths across the world are attributed to air pollution. Respiratory disease has increased as more and more people are suffering from asthma and bronchitis. The World Health Organization wants stricter standards on vehicles to reduce the amount of air pollution caused by traffic each day.

Our psychological and social health are also tied to transportation in a variety of ways. Traffic can cause stress, aggression, and nervousness. An interesting quote from a study on aggressive driving behavior states, “the car has been described as an instrument of dominance, with the road as an arena for competition and control. The car also symbolizes power and provides some protection, which makes drivers less restrained.” Furthermore, accident victims experience long-term physical injuries, but also psychological problems. Long-term stress from motor vehicle accidents is common, even when there are no injuries from the accident. Some people experience trauma after a major accident, oftentimes having flashbacks or nightmares. A social consequence to driving is reduced social life. Researchers have noted that “close-knit communities have given way to neighborhoods that do not encourage social interaction, and this has resulted in increased social isolation.”

Overall, traffic has serious health concerns – from direct environmental effects to lower quality of life due to traffic noise and stress.