The information will eventually translate into a set of policies and guidelines for the planning and design of urban microenvironments that will minimize the exposure of cyclists and pedestrians to air pollution. The project, led by Prof. Marianne Hatzopoulou of McGill’s Department of Civil Engineering, which includes an interdisciplinary team of engineers and health scientists, will receive over $450,000 over the next three years under a grant from the Collaborative Health Research Projects (CHRP) program. This research aims at reconciling the divide between urban policies that promote active transportation and health objectives which call for minimizing the exposure of Canadians to air pollution.
Prof. Hatzopoulou is among the 37 grant recipients of the 2012 CHRP program announced by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology) at an event held today at McGill University. The CHRP program is jointly funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
"Even though the health benefits of cycling clearly outweigh the risks to cyclists’ health, recent studies have found associations between air pollution exposure and health effects even at the low levels that characterize most Canadian cities," says Hatzopoulou. "Our focus is on the development of modeling systems and tools which can help policy-makers evaluate the effects of transportation policies on air pollution and health as well as assist the public at large in reducing their exposure."
Based on the data they collect, Hatzopoulou and her team are developing state-of-the-art models that capture the effects of changes in traffic patterns on the generation of air pollutants along with people’s exposure to them. They are also working on user-friendly applications for cell phones and computers that will assist urban cyclists in selecting routes that minimize their exposure.
Although Hatzopoulou and her students are gathering data only in Montreal, the modeling techniques they are using will offer urban planners in cities around the globe the tools needed to make informed decisions about the location and layout of bicycle paths in order to reduce air pollution exposure for cyclists. Ultimately, this research should lead to a reduction in the health risks potentially associated with urban cycling.
"Our Government understands that research and development are essential for achieving higher productivity and maintaining a high standard of living in Canada," said the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology). "That is why we support original research: to boost innovation and productivity in all fields including health care."
"I’d like to thank the Government of Canada for their support of NSERC and CIHR, and of programs such as the CHRP, which provides a compelling example of the benefits of addressing our society’s challenges through an interdisciplinary approach," said Prof. Heather Munroe-Blum, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill. "I also want to congratulate Prof. Hatzopoulou and her team for this recognition of their work, which will result in concrete improvements to the health of Canadians."