Review of Studies on Health Impact Assessment and Modelling from Transport Sector in the Context of BRIC Countries

Transportation has always played an integral role in the growth of our civilization and economic development. As much as transportation is a boon to the society, its detrimental effects on human health given the associated externalities such as sedentary lifestyle, exposure to air pollution, and injuries due to road crashes are incontestable. Many investigations have been carried out in the past to quantify the effect of transportation on human health. In this paper, the authors attempt to review these studies, specifically examining the methodologies adopted, and its utility in the context of developing economies. This is particularly crucial considering the characteristic differences between the transportation systems of developing and the developed economies. The primary goal of this paper is to identify methods to scientifically measure the impact of transportation on human health that can be applied in the developing economies’ context; such as the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) countries. The scope of this study is restricted to methods that assess the impact of transportation on health through three pathways: (i) exposure to particulate matter (PM_2.5), (ii) road traffic injuries, and (iii) physical inactivity. The disease burden for the pathways is calculated in Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). The authors also identify the existing gaps in the prevalent methodologies that need to be addressed while applying them in the developing economies’ context. Unavailability of extensive quality data in the developing economies is a major challenge for conducting similar health impact assessments. Most studies have overlooked the health impact of transportation on younger age groups (below 14 years of age), which is equally crucial in facilitating effective policy intervention. Finally, a customized methodology for the developing economies needs to acknowledge the quintessential behaviour of drivers that is a critical distinctive feature of their transportation system.