Tool for assessing health and equity impacts of interventions modifying air quality in urban environments
Date
2015
Authors
Cartier, Yuri
Benmarhnia, Tarik
Brousselle, Astrid
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Evaluation and Program Planning
Abstract
Background
Urban outdoor air pollution (AP) is a major public health concern but the mechanisms by which interventions impact health and social inequities are rarely assessed. Health and equity impacts of policies and interventions are questioned, but managers and policy agents in various institutional contexts have very few practical tools to help them better orient interventions in sectors other than the health sector. Our objective was to create such a tool to facilitate the assessment of health impacts of urban outdoor AP interventions by non-public health experts.
Methods
An iterative process of reviewing the academic literature, brainstorming, and consultation with experts was used to identify the chain of effects of urban outdoor AP and the major modifying factors. To test its applicability, the tool was applied to two interventions, the London Low Emission Zone and the Montréal BIXI public bicycle-sharing program.
Results
We identify the chain of effects, six categories of modifying factors: those controlling the source of emissions, the quantity of emissions, concentrations of emitted pollutants, their spatial distribution, personal exposure, and individual vulnerability. Modifiable and non-modifiable factors are also identified. Results are presented in the text but also graphically, as we wanted it to be a practical tool, from pollution sources to emission, exposure, and finally, health effects.
Conclusion
The tool represents a practical first step to assessing AP-related interventions for health and equity impacts. Understanding how different factors affect health and equity through air pollution can provide insight to city policymakers pursuing Health in All Policies.
Description
Keywords
Air pollution, Health, Equity, Policy, Evaluation, Assessment
Citation
Cartier, Y., Benmarhnia, T., & Brousselle, A. (2015). Tool for assessing health and equity impacts of interventions modifying air quality in urban environments. Evaluation and Program Planning, 53, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2015.07.004.