Author | Year of publication | Type of study | Location (city) | Population studied | Exposure variables | Key Health Outcomes | Key findings |
Bayer- Oglesby [25] | 2006 | Cohort study | Switzerland | Adults | Distance (distance to closest main street (per 100 m); living within 20 m of a main street) Pollutant measured PM10 | RS Attack of breathlessness Wheezing Regular cough Regular phlegm | The risk of attacks of breathlessness increased for all subjects by 13% per 500-m increment in the length of main street segments within 200 m of the home and decreased in never smokers by 12% per 100 m increment in distance from home to a main street Living within 20 m of a main street increased the risk of regular phlegm by 15% and wheezing with breathing problems by 34% in never smokers These findings among a general population provide strong confirmation that living near busy streets leads to adverse respiratory health effects |
Venn et al. [26] | 2001 | Case control/ Cross sectional | UK (Nottingham) | Children (4 to 11 years) and adolescents (11 to 16 years) | Distance to nearest main road (≤30 m; 60 m; 90 m; 120 m; 150 m) | RS Wheezing RD Asthma | Among children living within 150 m of a main road, the risk of wheeze increased. And most of the increased risk was localized to within 90 m of the roadside. Living within approximately 90 m of a main road is associated with a proximity-related increase in the risk of wheezing illness in children |
Hu et al. [27] | 2016 | Cohort study | China (Beijing) | Adults (>35 years) long-term residents (≥3 years) | Distance (<100 m; 100 - 200 m, or >200 m) | RS Chronic cough Shortness of breath | Participants living a shorter distance from major roads had lower percentage of predicted FEV in 1 s. Long term exposure to traffic related air pollution in people living near major roads in Beijing is associated with lower lung function, airway acidification, and a higher prevalence of chronic cough |