Commuting on Public Transport: Health Risks and Responses

Abstract

Rapid urbanization places a huge demand for infrastructure on busy city roads, exposing commuters to the health risks of atmospheric air pollutants. Traffic-related air pollution causes significant health burdens worldwide and enormous economic losses. Both shortand long-term exposures to atmospheric air pollutants cause a range of adverse health effects on people who commute. The short-term symptoms of exposure include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and headaches. Long-term exposure is associated with cardiovascular, respiratory, and lung cancer mortality. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution also has detrimental effects on psychological and mental health. Although the use of proper respiratory protection may greatly reduce inhalation of microparticulate matter commonly found at high concentrations on busy roads, its use is not common in some communities. The adverse health risks associated with traffic-related air pollution can also be reduced through diet and lifestyle modifications, and these should be encouraged. A lack of environmental health literacy may result in the underutilization of preventive resources; therefore, fostering proper delivery of information may improve the health of commuters. Attention is drawn to the need for research tailored to individual societies or countries due to the influence of innumerable factors such as culture, religion, and climate, as well as policy and governance that contribute to diversity among health impacts and local community mitigation measures.