MTR 309, 1996 Olympics Show Asthma-Traffic Link

Issue 309

March 19, 2001

1996 Olympics Show Asthma-Traffic Link

A study showing a clear relationship between traffic reduction and reduced incidents of asthma was published in the February 21st issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. During the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, the city virtually banned single occupant cars in downtown Atlanta in order to prevent gridlock. Morning rush hour traffic volumes decreased by more than 22%. This decreased the peak amount of ozone by 28% during the 17 days of the Olympics.

The scientists who conducted the study compared respiratory acute care events hospitalizations and emergency room visits during the Olympics to the four weeks before and after the games. They found that asthma related acute care events decreased by 41.6% during the games. However, other respiratory ailments did not show a relationship to the improved air quality.

In 1999, New York City had approximately 46.26 asthma-related hospitalizations for every 10,000 people (any age.) In the worst pockets, the rates of hospitalization for children was as high as 200 per 10,000. The Atlanta study provides a clear mandate to transportation agencies around the region to reduce the vehicle miles traveled in the region.