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Traffic Proximity, Health Effects, and Infrastructure Planning:
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Traffic Proximity, Health Effects, and Infrastructure Planning: A Workshop Summary Brenda E. Barry, Ph.D. Abstract: The possibility that adverse heath effects are associated with elevated exposures to motor vehicle emissions (MVE) near busy roadways has recently emerged as a significant public health concern. An expanding body of air pollutant measurement data documents the unique aspects of the air pollution mixture near roadways and recent epidemiological data suggest increased risks for exacerbation of asthma and other respiratory diseases, premature mortality, certain cancers and birth outcomes from air pollution exposures in populations residing in relatively close proximity to roadways. The Workshop on Traffic, Health, and Infrastructure Planning, held in February 2004, was convened to provide a forum for interdisciplinary discussion of proximity to MVE and related health effects. The invited participants constituted an international group of experts from the fields of mobile source air pollution emissions and exposures, their associated health effects, and transportation infrastructure planning and policy. A report from the Workshop has been prepared that summarizes the discussions and findings regarding the current science on this issue, identifies the planning and policy issues related to localized motor vehicle emissions and health concerns, and provides recommendations for future research and directions. Biography : Dr. Barry is a toxicologist and Senior Associate with The Cadmus Group in Watertown, Massachusetts. She has extensive experience as a project manager for environmental investigations regarding exposures to chemicals and microbial agents as well as asthma and cancer cluster concerns. These investigations have included multidisciplinary studies for corporations, schools, hospitals, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Her expertise focuses on the toxicology of indoor and outdoor air pollutants, their related health effects, and risk communication surrounding these issues. Dr. Barry has also managed numerous projects for biotechnology companies regarding environmental health and safety concerns. These projects have included evaluation of potential health hazards concerning specific laboratory processes, development of procedures for safe use of new pharmaceutical compounds, development of approaches to minimize hazardous laboratory conditions, and management of on-site environmental health and safety programs. Dr. Barry is a member of the Society of Toxicology, the New England Society for Risk Assessment, and the American Biological Safety Association; she is also certified as a Registered Biosafety Professional. Dr. Barry received her doctorate in pathology at Duke University and completed her post-doctoral studies at the Harvard School of Public Health. She received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Rhode Island. |
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