Roadside & Traffic Air

Living, running, or cycling next to heavy traffic.

47Moderate burden · out of 100

Cleaner swapExercise away from traffic; filter home air

How this score is built

100Start
72.4Chemical hazard 6 × 4.6−27.6
52Everyday exposure 6 × 3.4−20.4
47Persistence 2 × 2.6−5.2, then rounded to 47
ModerateThe band47 sits in 40–59.

What each input rests on

The three ratings behind the score, and the studies each rests on
Input	Rating	Evidence
Chemical hazard	6/10	In 3,677 southern California children followed from age 10 to 18, those living within 500 m of a freeway had an 81 mL deficit in 8-year FEV1 growth compared with children living at least 1,500 m away, independent of regional air quality. Effect of exposure to traffic on lung development from 10 to 18 years of age: a cohort study · Lancet 2007 DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60037-3 · PMID 17307103 · Abstract, Findings · read 2026-10-21
Everyday exposure	6/10	unsourced input
Persistence	2/10	unsourced input

Ratings are editorial. A study listed here supports the rating; it did not compute it. How the index is built

What this means for you

The chemical-hazard rating is what drives the score down. Traffic exhaust delivers PM2.5, benzene and ultrafine particles. Move workouts to parks and back streets, and filter indoor air near busy roads.

Evidence strength: strong

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Lower-exposure choices

Regular Sauna UseMinimal · Environment

Regular Exercise & SweatMinimal · Environment

All 19 environment entries, highest burden first →