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Abstract
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Urban population in India has increased from 17-31.16% between 1951 and 2011. Transport sector in India is an extensive system comprising different modes of transport, but road transport is the dominant mode playing an important role in conveyance of goods and passengers and linking the centers of production, consumption and distribution. Road transport accounted for 4.7% of India's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010-11. Although essential for mobility, trade, economic development and growth, integration and social inclusion, there are negative impacts of transportation as well especially that of energy intensive transport.
The objective of this paper is to review the multiple impacts on health as a result of road transport in urban areas. A review of literature was done for publications related to the topic focusing on the last 10 years. Sources included Pubmed, Google scholar, WHO website, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, Transport Research Wing, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Government of India, National Crime Record Bureau, Central Pollution Control Board Government of India etc. We used a health and environment cause-effect framework [Figure 1], the DPSEEA framework (Driving forces, Pressures, State, Exposures, health Effects and Actions) which is a descriptive representation of the way in which various driving forces generate pressures that affect the state of the environment and ultimately human health, through the various exposure pathways by which people come into contact with the environment. The framework takes account of the fact that various factors responsible for health and environment problems may be associated with such driving forces as population growth, urbanization, economic development, technological change, and to the policies underlying them. "Pressure" may be exerted on the environment which cause development sectors to generate various types of outputs (for example in the form of pollutant emissions), causing the "state" (quality) of the environment to be degraded through the dispersal and accumulation of pollutants in the environment such as air, soil, water and food. People may become "exposed" to potential hazards in the environment when they come into direct contact with these pollutants through breathing, drinking or eating. A variety of health effects may subsequently occur, ranging from minor, subclinical effects to illness and death depending on the intrinsic harmfulness of the pollutant, the severity and intensity of exposure and the susceptibility of the individuals exposed. Various actions can be implemented at different points of the framework and may take a variety of forms, including policy development, standard setting, technical control measures, health education or treatment of people with diseases.
Language: en |