A review of evidence on the cost-effectiveness of local authority activities to reduce exposure to air pollution from road traffic

Abstract

This paper presents a systematic review of evidence of the cost-effectiveness of local authority activities to reduce exposure to air pollution from road traffic. The work was undertaken as part of an evidence review for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and contributes to the economic model produced by Eunomia, which underpins draft guidance for local government published by the Public Health and Social Care Centre (PHSCC) within NICE. The draft guidance was released for consultation in December 2016 and the final publication is expected in July 2017. The review addresses the scope outlined by the PHSCC and was undertaken following NICE search protocols with PHSCC approval. The scope covers interventions that could be delivered by local authorities to reduce road-traffic-related emissions by: reducing overall mileage; altering the type of fuel used or driving style; aiding dispersion or deposition of pollutants; and altering personal behaviour to reduce exposure to pollutants. This paper concludes that there is a lack of available published evidence on the cost-effectiveness of such measures and makes recommendations for further research to address this evidence gap.