According to a study conducted at SFU low income students are much more likely to live in and attend school in heavy traffic areas. Car exhaust carries a range of pollutants including carbon monoxide, lead and Formaldehyde, and is "associated with lower lung function, impaired lung growth, asthma, ear infections and lower cognitive functioning." Exposure to pollutants has also been associated with lower reduced cognitive abilities and sleep quality. The study captured traffic patterns and income in 10 Canadian cities and found the traffic patterns to be consistent. Read more in the Vancouver Sun.
Download Proximity of public elementary schools to major roads in Canadian urban areas here
