Measures to reduce traffic-related pollution

Among the measures to combat emissions from road traffic is the establishment of low-emission zones, known as LEZs. These are measures designed to restrict the movement of vehicles that emit the highest levels of air pollutants. Such measures have been implemented in several hundred European cities, with some success.The City of Paris has initiated the gradual implementation of such a zone in the capital. To best support the planning and rollout of this Parisian LEZ, ORS Île-de-France, in collaboration with Airparif and with methodological support from Santé publique France, has developed a groundbreaking study based on highly detailed estimates of population exposure.

Santé publique France’s methodological contribution to this study

Santé publique France collaborates with the World Health Organization and ADEME to develop and provide local authorities with tools enabling them to prospectively assess the expected health benefits of air pollution reduction measures.As part of this study with the ORS, Santé publique France contributed its expertise to extrapolate the expected health benefits of the ZFE scheme in Paris based on exposure levels.

Tangible public health benefits

This study shows that implementing the LEZ would yield health benefits in terms of reducing the number of deaths and chronic diseases, particularly among children. Expanding the Paris LEZ boundary to include the A86 would amplify the expected health benefits, as would tightening traffic restriction levels.This assessment also shows that the benefits would extend beyond the boundaries of the LEZ and that a broader perimeter would promote social equity. Indeed, expanding the perimeter would reduce exposure among populations living in the suburbs, who are less advantaged compared to the Parisian population.

Learn more:

Report and summary - Expected health benefits of a low-emission zone. Prospective quantitative health impact assessment for the Paris metropolitan area.