Cold Climate Impact on Air-Pollution-Related Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review

Osnat Wine, Alvaro Osornio Vargas, Sandra M. Campbell, Vahid Hosseini, Charles Robert Koch and Mahdi Shahbakhti
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Osnat Wine: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Alvaro Osornio Vargas: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada
Sandra M. Campbell: Health Sciences Library, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R7, Canada
Vahid Hosseini: School of Sustainable Energy Engineering, Simon Fraser University, Surrey, BC V3T 0N1, Canada
Charles Robert Koch: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Mahdi Shahbakhti: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: In cold temperatures, vehicles idle more, have high cold-start emissions including greenhouse gases, and have less effective exhaust filtration systems, which can cause up to ten-fold more harmful vehicular emissions. Only a few vehicle technologies have been tested for emissions below ?7 °C (20 °F). Four-hundred-million people living in cities with sub-zero temperatures may be impacted. We conducted a scoping review to identify the existing knowledge about air-pollution-related health outcomes in a cold climate, and pinpoint any research gaps. Of 1019 papers identified, 76 were selected for review. The papers described short-term health impacts associated with air pollutants. However, most papers removed the possible direct effect of temperature on pollution and health by adjusting for temperature. Only eight papers formally explored the modifying effect of temperatures. Five studies identified how extreme cold and warm temperatures aggravated mortality/morbidity associated with ozone, particles, and carbon-monoxide. The other three found no health associations with tested pollutants and temperature. Additionally, in most papers, emissions could not be attributed solely to traffic. In conclusion, evidence on the relationship between cold temperatures, traffic-related pollution, and related health outcomes is lacking. Therefore, targeted research is required to guide vehicle regulations, assess extreme weather-related risks in the context of climate change, and inform public health interventions.

Keywords: traffic-related air pollution (TRAP); vehicle emissions; cold climate; vehicle cold start; low temperatures; human health; transportation; climate change; extreme weather (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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