title: Transport-related measures to mitigate climate change in Basel, Switzerland: A health-effectiveness comparison study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Local strategies to reduce green-house gases (GHG) imply changes of non-climatic exposure patterns.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the health impacts of locally relevant transport-related climate change policies in Basel, Switzerland.
  
  
  METHODS
  We modelled change in mortality and morbidity for the year 2020 based on several locally relevant transport scenarios including all decided transport policies up to 2020, additional realistic and hypothesized traffic reductions, as well as ambitious diffusion levels of electric cars. The scenarios were compared to the reference condition in 2010 assumed as status quo. The changes in non-climatic population exposure included ambient air pollution, physical activity, and noise. As secondary outcome, changes in Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) were put into perspective with predicted changes of CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under the scenario that assumed a strict particle emissions standard in diesel cars and all planned transport measures, 3% of premature deaths could be prevented from projected PM2.5 exposure reduction. A traffic reduction scenario assuming more active trips provided only minor added health benefits for any of the changes in exposure considered. A hypothetical strong support to electric vehicles diffusion would have the largest health effectiveness given that the energy production in Basel comes from renewable sources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The planned local transport related GHG emission reduction policies in Basel are sensible for mitigating climate change and improving public health. In this context, the most effective policy remains increasing zero-emission vehicles.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: l.perez@unibas.ch.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Lufthygieneamt beider Basel, Departement für Wirtschaft, Soziales und Umwelt Basel-Stadt, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trüeb
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cowie
authors.affiliation: TNO, Netherlands Organization for Applied Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Keuken
authors.affiliation: WHO European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mudu
authors.affiliation: Université de Montréal, Département de santé environnementale et santé au travail, École de santé publique, Canada.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ragettli
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Thessaloniki, Greece; Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Thermi, Greece.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sarigiannis
authors.affiliation: Bielefeld University, School of Public Health, Department 7 Environment & Health, Bielefeld, Germany; Federal Environment Agency (UBA), Section for Exposure Assessment and Health Indicators, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tobollik
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuomisto
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vienneau
authors.affiliation: School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sabel
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Künzli
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001336:Automobiles; D057231:Climate Change; D005260:Female; D017752:Greenhouse Effect / Q000517:prevention & control*; D062489:Health Impact Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013557:Switzerland; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: Air pollution; Climate change; GHG emissions; Health impact assessment; Noise; Physical activity; Policy