Transportation
Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health and is estimated to cause more than two million premature deaths worldwide per year. The primary source of urban air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gasoline and diesel fuel for electricity, heating and, in particular, transportation. In urban areas, vehicle exhaust from private and commercial vehicles is a major contributor of nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter – pollutants that can lead to significant acute and chronic health effects. Increased road and rail traffic can not only lead to congestion, but increases transportation-related air pollution which can have broad-reaching effects on human health, the health care system, and the economy as a whole. These will become significant political and policy issues that will likely need to be addressed as transportation infrastructure projects move forward.
Intrinsik has a significant amount of experience and expertise evaluating and communicating the environmental and health impacts related to air emissions from stationary and mobile sources such as motor vehicles and commuter rail technologies. Intrinsik has completed detailed evaluations of micro and macro environmental impacts (i.e., both local and regional) for a variety of projects.
We have also participated in a number of Environmental Assessment teams evaluating health components related to Transportation Master Plans, construction and expansions of major highways, and evaluating the impacts of congestion of existing arterial routes in urban areas on surrounding communities.