Initially, the transport sources to be considered will be selected on the basis both of available data for representative cities/regions of the EU, and possibilities for integrated assessment. A conceptual model will then be developed, specifying the key factors to be addressed and the links between them, the key health impacts and the points in the causal network at which intervention is possible. In close collaboration with SP1 the available exposure-response functions will be identified (first quick scan).

Transport policy/questions and future transport and urban traffic scenarios will then be identified. For this purpose, recent scenario-studies will be reviewed (e.g. EXTERNE, Unite, HEARTS). Key-stakeholders such as policy-makers, urban planners, citizen-panels will be consulted in collaboration with SP6. The focus will be on particulates (PM) – and especially elemental carbon and black smoke (BS), which recent research has shown to be considerably better indicators of exposure to urban transport emissions than PM or gaseous pollutants such as NO 2.

Next, the available emission and exposure models will be evaluated. Issues of aggregation level and time-periods will be addressed, depending on the exposure-response functions concerned: for example, if exposure-response functions are based on population exposure averages, then a detailed personal exposure assessment may not be necessary. Whether the currently available exposure-response functions for traffic pollution are sufficient for this purpose will be evaluated on the basis of emission and exposure models from recent and ongoing EU studies of both road transport (EXPOLIS, ULTRA, APHEA, EPIC, SAVIAH, AIRALLERG, HEAPSS, PATY1, AIRNET, AIRGENE, RUPIOH, HEARTS, 6-country study PEP, HEAVEN, HARMONOISE) and air transport (RANCH, HYENA) as well as local studies and systems (e.g. UK-Noise, TRAEMS-AUS, URBIS-NL, HEAT.

Environment and health monitoring data (e.g. physical activity data, baseline disease rates) will be selected in collaboration with SP2. Currently, assessment of urban air quality based upon a combination of monitoring and modelling is being tested by city authorities in London, Paris, Rotterdam, Athens, Prague, Rome and Oslo. These experiences will be used as a basis for developing the integrated assessment framework. Monitoring and mapping requirements of existing EU-directives (e.g. noise maps) will also be taken into account.

In preparation for Phase 2 of the project, a representative set of cities and regions will be identified on which the selected models can be applied and for which the data needed for exposure and health impact assessment are available. The exposure-response functions to be used will also be selected in collaboration with SP1. Deliverables from Phase 1 of this WP will thus comprise a detailed protocol for assessment, defining the relevant measures, methods, data sources and study areas to be used. Subject to time availability, initial data sets will also be obtained and checked, and some simple preliminary indicators (e.g. of population exposures) computed either for sample areas or EU level.