Transportation accounts for a significant share of air pollution.
These interactive figures identify communities across Massachusetts that are most overburdened and most vulnerable to three transportation-related burdens: PM2.5, Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM), and Traffic Volume and Proximity.
Map of Census block groups with the highest concentrations of one or more priority populations AND highest PM2.5 concentrations.
Map of Census block groups with the highest concentrations of one or more priority populations AND highest Diesel Particullate Matter (DPM) concentrations.
Map of Census block groups with the highest concentrations of one or more priority populations AND highest Traffic Proximity and Volume (PTRAF) values - Annual Avg Daily Traffic/Distance(km) to High Traffic Corridor.
This map shows communities (i.e. Census Block Groups) with high percentages of one or more priority population groups (80th percentile for the state) AND that experience the highest emissions burdens (80th percentile for the state) for specific pollutants. The three pollutants highlighted here - PM2.5, DPM, and PTRAF - are three of the seven emissions used to calculate cumulative Emissions burdens.
Priority populations represent demographic groups that environmental justice policy and research have identified as being especially vulnerable to environmental burdens as a consequence of social or economic disadvantage, physical vulnerability, or historic and persistent discrimination and inequality. These include:
Air emissions related to transportation:
PM2.5: Particulate matter in the air that is 2.5 microns or less in diameter (about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair). These small particulates pose a threat to human health because they can penetrate deeply into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. The EPA has documented that exposure to PM2.5 is associated with health effects such as elevated risk of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases or lung cancer, and increased health problems such as asthma attacks.
Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM): Particulate matter generated from the combustion of diesel fuel; a surrogate measure of exposure for diesel exhaust more generally. Diesel exhaust is a complex mixture of thousands of gases and fine particles that contains more than 40 toxic air contaminants. These include many known or suspected cancer-causing substances, such as benzene, arsenic and formaldehyde.
Traffic Proximity and Volume (PTRAF): An indicator of traffic exposure measured as residential proximity to roads weighted by traffic volume. More specifically, PTRAF is a count of vehicles (average annual daily traffic) at major roads within 500 meters of residential areas (i.e., Census Blocks) divided by distance in kilometers (km). Proximity to motor vehicle traffic is associated with greater exposure to toxic gases and particulate matter, as well as increased noise. Living near highly trafficked roads is related to increased risk of a variety of adverse health outcomes, including asthma, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, stress, and increased rates of mortality.
Population-weighted average exposures to PM2.5 for priority populations in Massachusetts relative to the state average.
Population-weighted average exposures to Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) for priority populations in Massachusetts relative to the state average.
Population-weighted average exposures to Traffic Proximity and Volume (PTRAF) for priority populations in Massachusetts relative to the state average.
These graphs show population-weighted exposures by group for the following transportation-related emissions burdens:
PM2.5: Particulate matter in the air that is 2.5 microns or less in diameter (about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair). These small particulates pose a threat to human health because they can penetrate deeply into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. The EPA has documented that exposure to PM2.5 is associated with health effects such as elevated risk of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases or lung cancer, and increased health problems such as asthma attacks.
Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM): Particulate matter generated from the combustion of diesel fuel; a surrogate measure of exposure for diesel exhaust more generally. Diesel exhaust is a complex mixture of thousands of gases and fine particles that contains more than 40 toxic air contaminants. These include many known or suspected cancer-causing substances, such as benzene, arsenic and formaldehyde.
Traffic Proximity and Volume (PTRAF): An indicator of traffic exposure measured as residential proximity to roads weighted by traffic volume. More specifically, PTRAF is a count of vehicles (average annual daily traffic) at major roads within 500 meters of residential areas (i.e., Census Blocks) divided by distance in kilometers (km). Proximity to motor vehicle traffic is associated with greater exposure to toxic gases and particulate matter, as well as increased noise. Living near highly trafficked roads is related to increased risk of a variety of adverse health outcomes, including asthma, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, stress, and increased rates of mortality.
For example, limited English speaking households (i.e., ‘Limited English HH’) in the state reside in Census block groups that experience population-weighted average Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM) concentrations that are 32.5% above the state average. Compare this to individuals over age 64 who reside in Census block groups with concentrations -7.5% below the state average.
These tables show the average air pollution concentration values (micrograms per cubic meter of air) or average traffic burden scores (Proximity to High Traffic Corridors) for Census block groups in that jurisdiction, along with the rank. A rank indicates the percentage of jurisdictions that are below that value. For example, Boston has an average PM2.5 concentration value of 6.7 micrograms per cubic meter, and a PM2.5 rank of 93.4. The latter means that Boston’s average PM2.5 concentration is higher than that of 93.4% of all other municipalities in the state.
PM2.5: Particulate matter in the air that is 2.5 microns or less in diameter (about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair). These small particulates pose a threat to human health because they can penetrate deeply into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. The EPA has documented that exposure to PM2.5 is associated with health effects such as elevated risk of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases or lung cancer, and increased health problems such as asthma attacks.
Diesel Particulate Matter (DPM): Particulate matter generated from the combustion of diesel fuel; a surrogate measure of exposure for diesel exhaust more generally. Diesel exhaust is a complex mixture of thousands of gases and fine particles that contains more than 40 toxic air contaminants. These include many known or suspected cancer-causing substances, such as benzene, arsenic and formaldehyde.
Traffic Proximity and Volume (PTRAF): An indicator of traffic exposure measured as residential proximity to roads weighted by traffic volume. More specifically, PTRAF is a count of vehicles (average annual daily traffic) at major roads within 500 meters of residential areas (i.e., Census Blocks) divided by distance in kilometers (km). Proximity to motor vehicle traffic is associated with greater exposure to toxic gases and particulate matter, as well as increased noise. Living near highly trafficked roads is related to increased risk of a variety of adverse health outcomes, including asthma, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, stress, and increased rates of mortality.