Talk:Gasbus - health impacts of Helsinki bus traffic

Suggestions of different groups for issue framing -- Mikko Pohjola 21:42, 18 February 2008 (EET)

Päivi Meriläinen, Matteo Prandi, Antonio Gasparrini, Pauliina Ahtoniemi

Scope

Purpose

To compare PM2.5 induced mortality in alternative public bus-transportation strategies as being considered by the Helsinki Metropolitan area.

Boundaries

• area: Helsinki Metropolitan area, Finland
• population: whole population in Helsinki area (1 million)
• primary PM2.5
• time period: Based on data 1996-1997, projected to year 2020
• Public Health effects: Mortality due to cardiopulmonary diseases, lung cancer and other non-accidental causes (?)
• Bus traffic tail-pipe emissions
• different ratio between the technologies
• fuel

Scenarios

1. Business as usual (current bus fleet)
2. All buses converted to modern diesel (EURO3-STD)
3. All buses converted to diesel with particle traps
4. All buses converted to natural gas buses

Intended users

• Helsinki Metropolitan area council
• Finnish government (e.g. Finnish ministry of social affairs and health)
• Scientific community
• Decision makers at local community level

Participants

• Scientists: KTL, YTV, Joint Research Centre @ European Commission

Definition

Variables

• Decision variable: Which bus engine?
  • includes emissions from different engine types
• PM2.5 emission from bus traffic
• PM2.5 concentration of bus traffic in Helsinki area (= exposure and intake estimate)
  • data: total conc. of PM2.5 exposure in Helsinki
• constant: Bus traffic intensity (if it remains the same)
• Dose-response
  • slope uncertain à variable
  • background mortality included as a constant
• human behavior (if data available)
• Health impact à mortality rate