Indoor and Outdoor Exposure Risks from Near-Roadway Air Pollution in Puerto Rico

Air pollution is often associated with factories or industrial facilities, but one of the most significant and pervasive sources is found much closer to homes, schools, and businesses: busy roads and highways.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that more than 45 million people in the United States live, work, or regularly spend time within approximately 300 feet of major roadways or transportation corridors. This proximity greatly increases potential exposure to traffic-related air pollutants.

Vehicles release a complex mix of contaminants, such as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and even particles generated by brake and tire wear. These pollutants are most concentrated within the first few hundred feet downwind of roadways, where millions of people spend a significant portion of their day.

EPA studies have linked these exposures to a wide range of health effects, including reduced lung function, worsened asthma, cardiovascular disease, and even premature mortality. Children, older adults, and people with existing respiratory or heart conditions are especially at risk.

Indoor spaces can offer valuable protection from near-roadway air pollution if the right precautions are taken, said Harry Pea, President of Zimmetry Environmental. Keeping doors and windows closed during peak traffic periods is a simple and effective step. High-efficiency HVAC filters can further reduce indoor particle levels, and HEPA-equipped portable air purifiers are excellent options for individual rooms or smaller areas.

Across Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, Zimmetry Environmental delivers comprehensive indoor and outdoor air quality assessments, monitoring, and consulting services to help identify and reduce exposure to harmful airborne pollutants. The company also recently released an educational video on near-roadway pollution, available at: https://youtu.be/6wsinTkSEVY

For more information about Zimmetry Environmentals air quality, building science, and environmental compliance services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995-0005, or email info@zimmetry.com.

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals, and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs, and general environmental consulting services.