Steadier Traffic Flow Improves Health of Local Infants, Researchers Say
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 - 21:14
in Health & Medicine
(PhysOrg.com) -- The creation of E-ZPass lanes over the past 15 years has significantly improved the health of newborn babies living near highways in the Northeast, according to a Columbia study. The researchers found that reductions in traffic congestion generated by E-ZPass lanes reduced premature birthrates by 10.8 percent and low birth weight by 11.8 percent among infants born within 2 kilometers of toll plazas. The net effect has led to hundreds of millions of dollars in saved medical costs.