Stories

Dr Xu also presented “Investigating the Triple Burden of Socioeconomic Disparities, Mobility Poverty, and Air Pollution Exposure in Toronto’s Neighborhoods” in the lecture session Land Use, Vehicle Miles Traveled, and Behavioral Approaches to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. This study investigated the relationships between ultrafine particle (UFP) exposure, socioeconomic status (SES), and accessibility to sustainable transportation in Toronto, Canada. A large-scale mobile measurement campaign was conducted, and a gradient boost model was used to generate exposure surfaces using land use, built environment, and meteorological conditions. The study found that individuals living in neighborhoods with higher social disadvantage experience higher UFP exposures. When factoring in daily mobility, UFP exposure disparities in disadvantaged populations are further exacerbated. We also found that individuals who do not generate emissions are consistently exposed to higher UFPs, with active transportation users experiencing the highest UFP exposures at home and at activity locations. The work proposed a novel index, the Community Prioritization Index (CPI), incorporating three indicators: air quality, social disadvantage, and sustainable transportation. This index identifies neighbourhoods experiencing a triple burden and in need of immediate policy action and targeted interventions. The study’s findings are crucial for promoting public health, addressing environmental justice, and ensuring transportation equity in urban planning.