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Air Pollution Exposure in Relation to the Commute to School: A Bradford UK Case Study

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  • Kim N. Dirks

    (Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand)

  • Judith Y. T. Wang

    (School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
    Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Amirul Khan

    (School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

  • Christopher Rushton

    (Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK)

Abstract

Walking School Buses (WSBs) provide a safe alternative to being driven to school. Children benefit from the contribution the exercise provides towards their daily exercise target, it gives children practical experience with respect to road safety and it helps to relieve traffic congestion around the entrance to their school. Walking routes are designed largely based in road safety considerations, catchment need and the availability of parent support. However, little attention is given to the air pollution exposure experienced by children during their journey to school, despite the commuting microenvironment being an important contributor to a child’s daily air pollution exposure. This study aims to quantify the air pollution exposure experienced by children walking to school and those being driven by car. A school was chosen in Bradford, UK. Three adult participants carried out the journey to and from school, each carrying a P-Trak ultrafine particle (UFP) count monitor. One participant travelled the journey to school by car while the other two walked, each on opposite sides of the road for the majority of the journey. Data collection was carried out over a period of two weeks, for a total of five journeys to school in the morning and five on the way home at the end of the school day. Results of the study suggest that car commuters experience lower levels of air pollution dose due to lower exposure and reduced commute times. The largest reductions in exposure for pedestrians can be achieved by avoiding close proximity to traffic queuing up at intersections, and, where possible, walking on the side of the road opposite the traffic, especially during the morning commuting period. Major intersections should also be avoided as they were associated with peak exposures. Steps to ensure that the phasing of lights is optimised to minimise pedestrian waiting time would also help reduce exposure. If possible, busy roads should be avoided altogether. By the careful design of WSB routes, taking into account air pollution, children will be able to experience the benefits that walking to school brings while minimizing their air pollution exposure during their commute to and from school.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim N. Dirks & Judith Y. T. Wang & Amirul Khan & Christopher Rushton, 2016. "Air Pollution Exposure in Relation to the Commute to School: A Bradford UK Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:11:p:1064-:d:81723
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Collins, Damian C. A. & Kearns, Robin A., 2005. "Geographies of inequality: Child pedestrian injury and walking school buses in Auckland, New Zealand," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(1), pages 61-69, January.
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    1. Mehrdad Rafiepourgatabi & Alistair Woodward & Jennifer A. Salmond & Kim Natasha Dirks, 2021. "The Effect of Route Choice in Children’s Exposure to Ultrafine Particles Whilst Walking to School," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Bosco Chinkonda & Alejandra Piragauta & Dennis Mazingi & Linda Chokotho & Monica Nzanga & Steve Manyozo & Prasanthi Puvanachandra & Margaret Peden, 2024. "Parents’ and Teachers’ Perceptions of Risks Associated with Children’s Walks to School in Blantyre, Malawi," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(11), pages 1-13, November.

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