The zero impact of the Vehicle Inspection Program on public health in São Paulo, SP

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of two interventions (implementation and suspension of mandatory vehicle inspection) on morbidity and mortality due to conditions related to air pollution, from 2008 to 2017. METHODS: Interrupted time series (ARIMA models), using data available in public repositories. RESULTS: A total of 229,337 children of up to 5 years old were hospitalized due to respiratory diseases, and 1,053 died (average monthly mortality ratio for this population: 1.12/100,000). Exact 137,876 individuals over 40 years old were hospitalized for an acute myocardial infarction, and 19,492 died (3.7/100,000). A total of 11,010 individuals over 40 years old were hospitalized with malignant neoplasms of the respiratory system; 2,898 died (0.5/100,000). A total of 20,807 individuals over 60 years old were hospitalized with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases; 2,627 died (1.5/100,000). As for strokes, 69,180 individuals were hospitalized, and 10,866 died (2.1/100,000). We found no significant regression coefficient for the implementation or suspension of the program regarding hospitalizations and deaths. 38,207 children of up to 14 years old were hospitalized with asthma, and 25 of them died (0.007/100,000). The coefficients show a monthly increase of 0.05 deaths/100,000 people (p = 0.01) in the post-inspection period. We found no correlation between the measured concentrations of the pollutants PM2.5 and CO – in a monitoring station, in the central region of the municipality – and the implementation or suspension of the inspection. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence confirms that the program had a measurable beneficial impact on morbidity and mortality due to respiratory and circulatory diseases.

Technical Inspections of Agricultural Machinery and Their Influence on Environmental Impact

“…Therefore, a relationship can be established between the possible serious defects found in vehicle technical inspections and a possible reduction in emissions from these vehicles in the coming years [39,40]. Although the relationship between vehicle inspections and the reduction of environmental impact is not thoroughly confirmed in the scientific literature [41], this article attempted to highlight the positive environmental effect that vehicle inspections can have.…”

Is the expansion of the subway network alone capable of improving local air quality? A study case in São Paulo, Brazil

“…The program started in 2008 and was suspended in 2013. Araujo and Araujo (2020), using time series analysis techniques, evaluated the impacts of the implementation and suspension of the mandatory vehicle inspection in the city of São Paulo on morbidity and mortality related to air pollution. They concluded that there is no evidence that the program had a measurable positive impact on morbidity and mortality due to respiratory and circulatory diseases.…”