CE Professor Greg RowanGould's Research on the Population Living Near High Traffic U.S. Roadways Profiled by the Los Angeles Times

September 18, 2013

A recently published study by CE Professor Greg Rowangould finds that 60 million people in the United States (20% of the population) live near a high volume road where they may be exposed to high concentrations of toxic air pollutants. An abundant amount of scientific research indicates that air pollutant concentrations are higher near roads with greater traffic levels and that people living near these roads are at greater risk of developing serious diseases such as cancer, asthma, and heart disease. Furthermore, the study finds that minority and low income residents are more likely to live near high volume roads, raising environmental justice concerns. The study also finds that most counties in the United States do not have regulatory air quality monitors located near high volume roads which limits the enforcement of ambient air quality standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The full study is available in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment.

An article profiling the study was also recently published in the Los Angeles Times.