Improving health through policies that promote active travel: A review of evidence to support integrated health impact assessment
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Nazelle, Audrey de
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Improving health through policies that promote active travel: A review of evidence to support integrated health impact assessment
Author
- Nazelle, Audrey de;
- Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J.;
- Antó, Josep M.;
- Brauer, Michael;
- Briggs, David;
- Braun-Fahrlander, Charlotte;
- Cavill, Nick;
- Cooper, Ashley R.;
- Desqueyroux, Hélène;
- Fruin, Scott;
- Hoek, Gerard;
- Panis, Luc Int;
- Janssen, Nicole;
- Jerrett, Michael;
- Joffe, Michael;
- Andersen, Zorana Jovanovic;
- Kempen, Elise van;
- Kingham, Simon;
- Kubesch, Nadine;
- Leyden, Kevin M.;
- Marshall, Julian D.;
- Matamala, Jaume;
- Mellios, Giorgos;
- Mendez, Michelle;
- Nassif, Hala;
- Ogilvie, David;
- Peiró, Rosana;
- Pérez, Katherine;
- Rabl, Ari;
- Ragettli, Martina;
- Rodríguez, Daniel;
- Rojas, David;
- Ruiz, Pablo;
- Sallis, James F.;
- Terwoert, Jeroen;
- Toussaint, Jean-François;
- Tuomisto, Jouni;
- Zuurbier, Moniek;
- Lebret, Erik;
Abstract
Background: Substantial policy changes to control obesity, limit chronic disease, and reduce air pollution
emissions, including greenhouse gasses, have been recommended. Transportation and planning policies that
promote active travel by walking and cycling can contribute to these goals, potentially yielding further cobenefits.
Little is known, however, about the interconnections among effects of policies considered, including
potential unintended consequences.
Objectives and methods: We review available literature regarding health impacts from policies that encourage
active travel in the context of developing health impact assessment (HIA) models to help decision-makers
propose better solutions for healthy environments. We identify important components of HIA models of
modal shifts in active travel in response to transport policies and interventions.
Results and discussion: Policies that increase active travel are likely to generate large individual health benefits
through increases in physical activity for active travelers. Smaller, but population-wide benefits could accrue
through reductions in air and noise pollution. Depending on conditions of policy implementations, risk
tradeoffs are possible for some individuals who shift to active travel and consequently increase inhalation of
air pollutants and exposure to traffic injuries. Well-designed policies may enhance health benefits through
indirect outcomes such as improved social capital and diet, but these synergies are not sufficiently well
understood to allow quantification at this time.
Conclusion: Evaluating impacts of active travel policies is highly complex; however, many associations can be
quantified. Identifying health-maximizing policies and conditions requires integrated HIAs.
General note
Artículo de publicación ISI
Identifier
URI: https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/123281
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.envint.2011.02.003
Quote Item
Environment International 37 (2011) 766–777
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