Clean air matters: an overview of traffic-related air pollution and pregnancy

ABSTRACT The right to a healthy pregnancy and to giving birth in a safe environment is source of comprehensive research. Decent birth facilities, respect, and no discrimination are already recognized as fundamental rights, but an accurate look at the outdoor environment is required. Air pollution is a dangerous factor to pregnant women and newborns, many of whom highly exposed to traffic-related atmospheric pollutants in urban areas. Such exposure can lead to low birth weight and long-lasting effects, such as respiratory diseases and premature death. Thus, this commentary, based on the analysis of literature, presents the importance of the exposome concept and of epigenetics in identifying the role of the environment for better health conditions of pregnant women and newborns. In the final considerations, this study proposes the deepening of the subject and the mobilization in this regard, with a human rights-based approach to environmental health and to the increased awareness of pregnant women on the risks of air pollution and its effects on health.

Poluição do ar sob a perspectiva urbana: comparando estratégias implementadas de controle de emissão veicular e mobilidade em São Paulo, Nova Iorque e Paris / Air pollution policies from an urban-oriented perspective comparing implemented strategies to control vehicular emissions and mobility in São Paulo, New York City and Paris

Objetivo: Este estudo teve por objetivo descrever e analisar as políticas e estratégias de controle da poluição do ar no meio urbano, com vistas a melhorar a qualidade do ar e apto a servir como referência para outras cidades em face de problemas críticos de poluição do ar. Usando os casos de Nova Iorque, São Paulo e Paris, este estudo destaca as diferentes políticas e tendências de gestão previstas nas três cidades, fornecendo uma caracterização destes três centros, descrevendo o período global e legal de desenvolvimento das principais políticas e destacando as principais estratégias implementadas ao longo dos últimos vinte anos. Metodologia: Tendo como abordagem um estudo múltiplo de caso, um primeiro componente fundamental da pesquisa consistiu na caracterização das três cidades, fornecendo dados sobre tendências das médias anuais da poluição do ar no que se refere a níveis de NO2, PM10, PM2.5, Ozônio e SO2 ao longo dos últimos quinze anos, apresentando uma visão geral dos meios de transporte e das frotas de veículos, e descrevendo as principais políticas desenvolvidas nas três cidades. Em seguida, a pesquisa propõe uma categorização das principais estratégias aplicadas, usando as abordagens de gestão da poluição do ar (regulatório, incentivos econômicos e outros) da OECD (Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico) para visualizar as escolhas estratégicas empregadas.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe and analyze urban air pollution control policies and strategies, with the goal of improving air quality and serving as a reference for other cities facing critical air pollution issues. Using the cases of New York City, São Paulo and Paris, this study highlights the different policies and management tendencies practiced in the three cities, by providing a characterization of the three centers, describing the global and legal timeframe of the development of main policies and highlighting major strategies implemented over the last twenty years. Methodology: Using a multi-case study approach, the first component of the research consisted of characterizing the three cities, providing data on air pollution yearly average level trends of NO2, PM10, PM2.5, Ozone and SO2 over the last fifteen years, giving an overview of modes of travel and the local vehicle fleet, and describing the main policies undertaken in the three cities. Then, the study proposed a categorization of the main strategies applied using OECD air pollution management approaches (regulatory, economic incentives and others) to foresee strategic choices employed. Finally, the results were synthesized with a SWOT analysis matrix and complemented with suggestions based on a human-rights approach to air quality.