Intersections -- Transportation
and your health 

Part 1 -- A breath of fresh air 

In many ways Rhode Island's transportation policies -- which give cars, light trucks and SUVs the highest priority, provide limited support for RIPTA and public transportation, and don't support efforts to create complete streets -- have become a de facto part of the state's health policy.

Without improved and expanded real, efficient transportation choices, Rhode Islanders are forced to rely almost exclusively on automobiles to get where they're going. The effects of this over-reliance are well-documented: poor air quality, more of the pollution that cause global warming, traffic accidents, people injured on busy roadways not designed to accommodate pedestrians, and a sedentary, car-dependent life style, which -- combined with unhealthy eating habits -- has created an obesity crisis.

During the next four weeks we'll take an in-depth look at some of the ways that driving cars rather than using public transportation or walking and biking affects the health of Rhode Islanders.

Dangerous emissions 

Picture standing at a bus stop, walking along a sidewalk, riding your bike, or not being able to open the windows of your car or your house without breathing exhaust.  

Year-round, Rhode Islanders who live along heavily traveled routes or travel on streets and highways bear the brunt of the pollutants emitted from direct auto exhaust, including carbon monoxide and fine particles.  

Transportation is the source of most of the easily-breathed-in fine particles that cause or aggravate cardiovascular disease such as heart attacks and stroke, as well as lung disease. Carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in the blood, also causing cardiovascular disease and making it harder for people with lung disease to breathe. Many of the particles in gasoline and diesel exhaust are toxic air pollutants that contribute to many forms of cancer.

Warmer air, more cars, shorter breath
But during the summer, when sunlight is strongest, and these pollutants combine with others to create ground level ozone, things go from bad to worse.

Ozone is a colorless gas that can be found throughout the earth's atmosphere. It's a natural and important part of the upper atmosphere, shielding the earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays. But on the ground, ozone is formed by chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds -- pollutants that come from automobile emissions. Ground level ozone is a primary ingredient of smog. It is a hazard to human health, damages forests and vegetation and can degrade materials like rubber and paint.

More than a quarter of the pollutant gases that combine to make ozone smog throughout the state come from cars and other motor vehicles.   

Every summer, the hot weather brings unhealthy air conditions -- and although summer has just started, the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) have already issued this year's first air quality alert. The alert lasted from June 8 - 9 because of high ozone smog levels.

During ozone alert days, people are encouraged to limit outdoor exercise and strenuous activity and are encouraged to stay in an air-conditioned environment if possible during the afternoon and evening hours because this is when ozone levels are highest.

Some people are particularly sensitive to ozone, especially when they are active outdoors. There are several groups of people who are at highest health risk from exposure to ozone.

* People with lung diseases like asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These people's lungs are already compromised, and the ozone can aggravate their diseases. Rhode Island faces an epidemic of asthma among both children and adults.

* Children. Kids play outdoors, especially in the summer time when ozone levels are highest. Many children have asthma, which can be aggravated by ozone, and young lungs are still developing so are more sensitive to exposures.

* Older adults are also more sensitive because they are more likely to have other health issues that can be exacerbated by ozone exposure.

A breath of fresh air 

To help Rhode Islanders breather easier, when ozone levels are unhealthy, DEM and the Rhode Island Department of Health issue health advisories and RIPTA provides free bus travel to discourage driving.  

We can expect more ozone alerts as the summer progresses. The Department of Environmental Management monitors air quality and publishes air quality alerts on their web site.

Breathing is not a choice -- everyone is affected by unhealthy air. More safe, reliable transportation choices for mean less traffic congestion, less air pollution and healthier Rhode Islanders.  

You can read more about the broad health impacts of our lack of transportation choices on the American Lung Association's website at lungusa.org and the American Public Health Association website at apha.org.