School Zones: A Solution to Help Improve Air Quality, Widely Supported by Parents

Objective - Chronic exposure to air pollution was classified as a carcinogen in 2013 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Road traffic is one of the main sources of pollution in France: it accounts for 62% of nitrogen dioxide emissions and is responsible for 18% of fine particulate matter emissions. Children are more vulnerable to air pollution than adults. School zones—streets where motor vehicles are prohibited during school arrival and dismissal times—are one of the measures used to limit children’s exposure to air pollution. Optimizing the implementation of school zones requires a better understanding of parents’ expectations. The main objective of the study was to assess the importance parents place on good air quality for their children and to measure their support for the school zone program. Method - The survey was conducted between July 6 and 17, 2021, among a representative national sample of 1,230 parents of children aged 3 to 10 in metropolitan France and the overseas departments and regions (DROM). Results - The majority of parents surveyed are concerned about the impact of air pollution on their children’s health (78%). The school zone program is supported by 84% of parents, particularly those in the “blue-collar workers” socio-professional category (91%). The main obstacles to this initiative are the availability of parking spaces near the school and the concern that traffic will simply shift to neighboring streets. The main drivers are making the area around the school safer, reducing traffic, and improving air quality near the school. Conclusion - This survey confirms strong parental support for the implementation of school streets aimed at reducing air pollution near schools, a source of concern for their children’s health.

Author(s): Rousseau Sophie, Cazorla Carlos, Dimitrova Yana, Ricard Emmanuel

Publishing year: 2022

Pages: 343-349

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2022, n° 19-20, p. 343-349

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