Figure 1. Overview of diseases, conditions and biomarkers affected by outdoor air pollution. Bold type indicates conditions currently included in the Global Burden of Disease categories (Thurston et al., 2017).
In one of his latest co-authored papers, Dr. Mark Stevenson, raises critical issues around the health impacts of heavy vehicle emissions on the community. The figures are staggering and the information could not come at a better time, in anticipation of the Federal Government’s Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) reform later this year.
As a society, we need to see rapid changes to the way that we manage road transport. Expect to see more updates from Urban Analytica this year on our software and how we are aiming to have an impact on these issues. We need more change!
Summary
This year, the federal government will revise the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). Policy options have been developed based on considerations of the regulatory framework, safety, productivity, and administrative impacts, supported by a cost-benefit analysis weighing implementation costs against potential benefits. While these issues are important, arguably one of the most critical aspects has been overlooked: the impacts on public health and the associated economic ramifications.
This discussion paper examines the health impacts associated with exhaust emissions from the heavy vehicle fleet and seeks to quantify the related economic costs, which have received comparatively limited attention to date. We encourage the ongoing review of the HVNL to consider and appropriately account for these impacts as part of its broader assessment.
Link to full paper.