Title
Improving health through policies that promote active travel: A review of evidence to support integrated health impact assessment
Author
de Nazelle, A.
Nieuwenhuijsen, M.J.
Antó, J.M.
Brauer, M.
Briggs, D.
Braun-Fahrlander, C.
Cavill, N.
Cooper, A.R.
Desqueyroux, H.
Fruin, S.
Hoek, G.
Panis, L.I.
Janssen, N.
Jerrett, M.
Joffe, M.
Andersen, Z.J.
van Kempen, E.
Kingham, S.
Kubesch, N.
Leyden, K.M.
Marshall, J.D.
Matamala, J.
Mellios, G.
Mendez, M.
Nassif, H.
Ogilvie, D.
Peiró, R.
Pérez, K.
Rabl, A.
Ragettli, M.
Rodríguez, D.
Rojas, D.
Ruiz, P.
Sallis, J.F.
Terwoert, J.
Toussaint, J.-F.
Tuomisto, J.
Zuurbier, M.
Lebret, E.
Publication year
2011
Abstract
Substantial policy changes to control obesity, limit chronic disease, and reduce air pollution emissions, including greenhouse gasses, have been recommended. Transportation and planning policies that promote active travel by walking and cycling can contribute to these goals, potentially yielding further co-benefits. Little is known, however, about the interconnections among effects of policies considered, including potential unintended consequences. Objectives and methods: We review available literature regarding health impacts from policies that encourage active travel in the context of developing health impact assessment (HIA) models to help decision-makers propose better solutions for healthy environments. We identify important components of HIA models of modal shifts in active travel in response to transport policies and interventions. Results and discussion: Policies that increase active travel are likely to generate large individual health benefits through increases in physical activity for active travelers. Smaller, but population-wide benefits could accrue through reductions in air and noise pollution. Depending on conditions of policy implementations, risk tradeoffs are possible for some individuals who shift to active travel and consequently increase inhalation of air pollutants and exposure to traffic injuries. Well-designed policies may enhance health benefits through indirect outcomes such as improved social capital and diet, but these synergies are not sufficiently well understood to allow quantification at this time. Conclusion: Evaluating impacts of active travel policies is highly complex; however, many associations can be quantified. Identifying health-maximizing policies and conditions requires integrated HIAs. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
Subject
Organisation
SHB - Safe & Healthy Business
BSS - Behavioural and Societal Sciences
Workplace ; Health
Air pollution
Built environment
Cycling
Physical activity
Risk assessment
Walking
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:a884056b-d5fe-4495-a0d3-45b8012d0d95
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2011.02.003
TNO identifier
428807
ISSN
0160-4120
Source
Environment International, 37 (4), 766-777
Document type
article