Toxic Contaminations and Health Perils of Global Transportation

Introduction: Transportation and Toxic Contamination

One of the most dangerous perils of global transportation — largely unknown to many people — is toxic contamination produced by the various modes of transport. Rail, sea, road, air, and pipeline transportation are all sources that discharge toxic contaminants as gases and particulate matter, causing harm to the natural environment and to human health. These modes of transportation release toxic contaminants primarily through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are harmful to the world's ecosystems. According to Awadallah and Fini (2013), global transportation accounts for a significant portion of GHG emissions despite a steady decline in those emissions over the past two decades. Based on recent surveys, transportation is the fastest-growing source of these gases in the United States.

Rail, sea, road, air, and pipeline transportation emit greenhouse gases through the burning of fossil fuels, which increases the release of carbon dioxide into the Earth's atmosphere. Pure carbon dioxide is odorless and colorless, yet is potentially a toxic contaminant that negatively affects the environment. Even low concentrations of this gas can be dangerous to human health, as inhaling air containing more than 7% carbon dioxide represents a major toxicological hazard (Gough, O'Keefe & Mander, 2014).

Greenhouse gases have been the major drivers of climate change and global warming over the past few decades, continuing to affect environmental and human well-being. It is projected that if GHG emissions from transportation continue at the current rate, there will be significant shifts in global climate, resulting in long-term impacts on both the environment and human populations. While there have been attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions — including the development of electric cars — these initiatives have not completely resolved the problem. Bomford (2013) argues that electric cars have been found to have significant impacts on global warming compared to conventional cars, impacts attributable to the electricity used both to manufacture the vehicles and to power them.

Global transportation has significant negative impacts on the environment given the paradoxical nature of the relationship between transport and the environment. While transportation supports increasing mobility demands for passengers and cargo across the globe, it simultaneously produces negative environmental effects. As transportation activities contribute to greater motorization and congestion, they become a source of numerous environmental problems. According to Rodrigue, Comtois, and Slack (2006), the major environmental impacts of global transportation include climate change, noise, air quality, soil quality, land use, water quality, and biodiversity loss. The American Physical Society (2017) reports that all transportation modes involving the consumption of petroleum-based fuels affect the environment through water and air pollution.

The impact of GHG emissions from various modes of transportation is evident in the rise of diseases among human populations worldwide. In recent decades there has been an increase in respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and lung cancer throughout the world. Human populations have also experienced increases in hypertension, asthma attacks, incidents, injuries, and deaths as a result of the perils of global transportation. Existing literature demonstrates a strong link between road traffic noise and hypertension, as well as other health risks (Méline et al., 2015).

Expansion in Lung Cancer and Respiratory Diseases

The other major peril of global transportation is the expansion of disease brought about by increased greenhouse gas emissions. Oils and fuels used in the various modes of transportation are driving the rise in lung cancer and respiratory diseases, as well as contributing to soil contamination. Air pollution arising from the various modes of transportation has adverse health impacts on human populations around the world. Some studies have shown a strong link between air pollution in urban centers and increased mortality (American Physical Society, 2017). The resulting smog from air pollution reduces average lifespan by approximately two years, which is an indicator of the severe health effects of global transportation. Lung cancer and pulmonary diseases are among the leading mortality associations with urban air pollution, and the risk of dying from lung cancer increases with greater exposure to exhaust emissions.

The toxic air pollutants from rail, road, pipeline, sea, and air transportation are linked to respiratory and cardiovascular problems as well as lung cancer (Rodrigue, Comtois & Slack, 2006). One of these toxic pollutants is carbon monoxide — an odorless, colorless, yet dangerous gas. When inhaled, it enters the circulatory system, reduces the availability of oxygen, and impairs blood flow, all of which can be extremely dangerous to public health. Another toxic air pollutant from these modes of transport is nitrogen dioxide, which reduces lung function, weakens the respiratory immune defense system, and increases the risk of respiratory problems.

Additionally, spills of oil and fuel from vehicles contaminate soil that is used to grow food. This results in less fertile and less productive soils. Global transportation affects soil quality through both soil contamination and soil erosion. For instance, coastal transportation facilities and activities have negative effects on soil erosion because they alter the scale and scope of wave action. Similarly, these modes of transportation contribute to significant loss of productive land through activities such as highway construction. Soil contamination — which affects the food that people consume — occurs through the use of toxic materials in transportation activities. Oil and fuel spills eventually enter the soil, impairing fertility and productivity, which in turn affects agricultural output.

Increase in Cardiovascular Disease, Heart Attacks, and Deaths

The use of various modes of transportation is contributing to an expansion in cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, and deaths. Global transportation is a chronic source of noise, which generates stress that affects the cardiovascular system by heightening the risk of hypertension and high blood pressure through prolonged exposure. The increased risk of cardiovascular disease is also attributable to the operations of transportation infrastructure itself. Schwanen (2016) notes that there have been growing public concerns about the link between health and global transportation.

Transportation has been found to have a significant impact on health because the ease of access and increased affordability of various modes of transport has contributed to physically inactive lifestyles. Combined with high-calorie diets, physically inactive lifestyles in car-oriented settings contribute to imbalances between energy intake and expenditure among various human populations worldwide. This imbalance endangers individual health and well-being by increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. As a result, the use of transport heightens the danger of heart attacks due to its negative effects on the cardiovascular system. The increased risk of heart attacks is also linked to the chemical particles discharged in exhaust fumes, which significantly elevate the danger of heart attacks even among otherwise healthy adults. This risk is heightened because people are increasingly exposed to chemical particles generated by transportation facilities and operations.

Furthermore, the use of various modes of transport has contributed to an elevated risk of death. Road transportation in particular has been a major public safety concern. Many people have been injured or killed in vehicle accidents. Air and rail transportation have likewise witnessed increases in the number of incidents and accidents resulting in death. While some of these accidents are preventable, others are not, and both contribute to injuries and deaths — representing one of the most direct perils of global transportation.

Apart from deaths through incidents and accidents, global transportation also contributes to mortality through severe health impacts. Based on the findings of numerous studies, air pollution through emissions of soot and other diesel fuel particles could contribute to nearly 60,000 premature deaths annually in the United States (American Physical Society, 2017). These premature deaths occur because of cardiopulmonary diseases caused by air pollution from global modes of transport such as road transport.

References

American Physical Society. (2017). Transportation and energy issues. Retrieved September 26, 2017, from

Awadallah, F., & Fini, E. H. (2013). Transportation global environmental impact. Institute of Transportation, 83(9), 43–46.

Bomford, A. (2013, April 11). How environmentally friendly are electric cars? BBC News.

Gough, C., O'Keefe, L., & Mander, S. (2014). Public perceptions of CO2 transportation in pipelines. Energy Policy, 70, 106–114. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2014.03.039

LeBeau, P. (2014, January 2). Ford develops solar powered car for everyday use. CNBC.

Méline, J., Hulst, A. V., Thomas, F., & Chaix, B. (2015). Road, rail, and air transportation noise in residential and workplace neighborhoods and blood pressure (RECORD study). Noise & Health, 17(78), 308–319. doi:10.4103/1463-1741.165054

Rodrigue, J.-P., Comtois, C., & Slack, B. (2006). The geography of transport systems. Retrieved from https://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/gallery/Geography%20of%20Transport%20Systems_1ed.pdf

Schwanen, T. (2016). Geographies of transport I. Progress in Human Geography, 40(1), 126–137. doi:10.1177/0309132514565725