Car and health
07.21
From 2007 to 2008
TML prepared a report on the fine dust problem in Flanders, which served as the basis for a Citizens' Convention on the impact of vehicles on health. The report highlights key issues such as the contribution of traffic to particulate matter emissions, the health effects of particulate matter on the Fleming, and the need to address non-exhaust emissions from vehicles.
TML was commissioned by the viWTA (Flemish Institute for Scientific and Technological Aspect Research attached to the Flemish Parliament) to produce a report on the fine dust problem in Flanders. It formed the input for a Citizens' Convention - a participatory public consultation - on the theme My car, my health.
Through the report, TML brings its expertise on traffic and particulate matter to the general public. To describe the health effects, the Department of Pneumology of the Faculty of Medicine of KU Leuven contributed its knowledge.
Some key points from the report are:
TML participated in the first Flemish Citizens' Convention on 24 May 2007 in the Flemish Parliament, organised by the viWTA.
224 Flemings debated for a whole day on concrete policy measures to reduce particulate emissions from traffic. In small groups of about ten people, they amended and improved proposed measures. For technical clarifications or questions, they could call on three experts: Frans Fierens of VMM, Tania Van Mierlo of LNE, and Bruno Van Zeebroeck of TML.
The basis for the discussion was a simplified and shortened version of the TML study report "Car and Health".
TML was commissioned by the viWTA (Flemish Institute for Scientific and Technological Aspect Research attached to the Flemish Parliament) to produce a report on the fine dust problem in Flanders. It formed the input for a Citizens' Convention - a participatory public consultation - on the theme My car, my health.
Through the report, TML brings its expertise on traffic and particulate matter to the general public. To describe the health effects, the Department of Pneumology of the Faculty of Medicine of KU Leuven contributed its knowledge.
Some key points from the report are:
- Fine dust costs the Fleming up to three healthy life years.
- Traffic accounts for a third of fine dust emissions.
- Much particulate matter blows in from abroad and Flemish particulate matter is blown abroad. Depending on location and weather conditions, 5 to 30% of the particulate matter in Flemish air comes from traffic in Flanders.
- If all European diesel cars were replaced by diesel cars with particulate filters, Flemish air would contain 10% less particulate matter.
- The importance of non-exhaust emissions from traffic such as tyre, road surface, and brake wear is becoming increasingly important.
TML participated in the first Flemish Citizens' Convention on 24 May 2007 in the Flemish Parliament, organised by the viWTA.
224 Flemings debated for a whole day on concrete policy measures to reduce particulate emissions from traffic. In small groups of about ten people, they amended and improved proposed measures. For technical clarifications or questions, they could call on three experts: Frans Fierens of VMM, Tania Van Mierlo of LNE, and Bruno Van Zeebroeck of TML.
The basis for the discussion was a simplified and shortened version of the TML study report "Car and Health".
