Survey of key issues: environmental impacts of urban transportation

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5571186

LaBelle, S

Urban transportation systems daily carry over three-fourths the citizens in developed nations and a smaller share of those in lesser developed nations. Because transportation networks follow population density, environmental impacts of these systems have been, and will continue to be, major concerns worldwide. Air quality concerns are generally of more importance, followed by noise and water quality issues. Waste disposal is of lesser concern from transportation systems but still at issue. At the basis of the concerns for environmental impacts are public health and safety issues. This survey found that (1) substantial progress has been made in developed nations regarding air pollution from automobiles; (2) noise standards are in place for aircraft and highway vehicles in most developed nations; (3) water quality issues vary in severity by location; (4) traffic safety impacts have been decreasing in many nations due to increased seat belt usage and improved highway design. Issues for the future focus on acid rain, vehicle safety, and keeping the environmental gains achieved until now. Lesser developed nations will face substantial environmental concerns as they expand their transport networks to keep pace with expected growth in urban population. The opportunity exists today for those nations to lower air emissions, in particular, but will require careful balancing of mobility and health concerns. 41 refs.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5571186
• Report Number(s): CONF-8503155-1; ON: DE85010258
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
510200 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR QUALITY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
MANAGEMENT
NOISE
SAFETY
TRANSPORT
URBAN AREAS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER QUALITY