Research on Health Effects, Exposure, & Risk from Mobile Source Pollution

Motor vehicle emissions contribute to ambient levels of air toxics known or suspected as human or animal carcinogens. Exposures to air toxics can also cause noncancerous health effects, such as neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive and/or immune system damage.

Below are resources for health effects, exposure, and risk from mobile source pollution.

• Diesel Exhaust in the United States (pdf) (412 KB, EPA420-F-03-022, June 2003)
  This document provides an overview of the effects of diesel exhaust on your health and the environment, steps to reduce emissions, and how the government is contributing to emissions reduction.
• Health Assessment Document for Diesel Exhaust (pdf) (8.23 MB, EPA/600/8-90/057F, May 2002)
  This assessment examined information regarding the possible health hazards associated with exposure to diesel engine exhaust, which is a mixture of gases and particles.
• Hazardous Air Pollutants
  EPA's online resource center for information regarding hazardous air pollutants, health effects, technical reports, assessment data, regulations, and air quality programs.
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
  ATSDR is a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• California Air Resources Board School Bus Study
  This study was conducted to characterize the range of children's exposures to air toxics during their school bus commute.
• Air, Climate, and Energy (ACE) Centers: Science Supporting Solutions
  EPA supports research to inform policy makers on effective implementation of air pollution control strategies to achieve the greatest public health benefits by reducing exposure to harmful air pollution.
• Research on Near Roadway and Other Near Source Air Pollution
  This research is focused on near roadway sources of air pollution because living and working near sources of air pollution can lead to higher exposures to air contaminants, many of which contribute to adverse health effects.
• Fate, Exposure, and Risk Analysis (FERA)
  This website provides tools to assist with the EPA's efforts to evaluate the health risks and environmental effects associated with exposure to "criteria" pollutants (six common air pollutants including ozone and particles) and toxic air pollutants.
• Health Effects Institute
  This independent, nonprofit corporation was chartered in 1980 to provide high-quality, impartial, and relevant science on the health effects of pollutants from motor vehicles and from other sources in the environment.
• International Agency for Research on Cancer
  IARC is the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization. Their objective is to promote international collaboration in cancer research.
• Integrated Risk Information System
  EPA's database of human health effects that may result from exposure to various substances found in the environment.
• National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment
  NATA is EPA's ongoing comprehensive evaluation of air toxics in the United States for State, Local, and Tribal Agencies.
• National Toxicology Program Report on Carcinogens
  The RoC is a congressionally mandated, science-based, public health report that identifies substances in the environment that pose a hazard to people residing in the United States.
• Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
  The mission of California's OEHHA site is to protect and enhance public health and the environment by scientific evaluation of risks posed by hazardous substances.
• Science Inventory
  The Science Inventory is a searchable database of research products primarily from EPA's Office of Research and Development. Science Inventory records provide descriptions of the product, contact information, and links to available printed material or websites.
• ToxFAQs™
  ToxFAQs™ is a database of summaries about hazardous substances developed by the Division of Toxicology within the Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
• Toxicology and Environmental Health Information Program
  TEHIP is a comprehensive toxicology and environmental health web site that includes access to resources produced by TEHIP and by other government agencies and organizations.