Health & Environmental Research Online (HERO)


Print Feedback Export to File
2080879 
Journal Article 
Evaluation of the air quality benefits of the subway system in Sao Paulo, Brazil 
Pereira da Silva, CB; Nascimento Saldiva, PH; Amato-Lourenco, LF; Rodrigues-Silva, F; El Khouri Miraglia, SG 
2012 
Yes 
Journal of Environmental Management
ISSN: 0301-4797
EISSN: 1095-8630 
101 
191-196 
English 
22446073 
WOS:000303306800022 
Air pollution is a severe problem in major urban areas due to increasing numbers of vehicles, reduced road capacity and few investments in public transportation, especially in developing countries. Public transportation has a special role in avoiding congestion and consequent environmental and health impacts but is considered expensive. The objective of this paper was to analyze the benefits of the São Paulo subway in terms of the air pollution in the city through strikes events, analyzing both the health outcomes and the related economic burden. For the strike events, increases in air pollutant concentrations during the strike day was observed when compared to a similar day in terms of day of the week and meteorological conditions. Increases in mortality were also observed and the associated economic burden calculated. Despite the elevated construction and operation costs of the subway, when environment and social values are considered, cost-benefit analysis results would indicate a worthwhile investment. The consideration of these aspects is essential to sustainable transportation analyses, and in the case of the São Paulo subway, our analysis clearly demonstrated the important role of this system in the city's environmental, social and economic attributes. 
Air pollution; Health; Public transportation; Subway; Value of statistical life; Sustainable transportation