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Electric vehicles and health: A scoping review

Environmental research · 2024 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 210

In a scoping review of 52 included articles (from 897 reviewed), nearly all studies (51/52) reported some evidence of a positive health impact of transitioning to electric or hybrid electric vehicles, though effect magnitudes varied. Only one included study w…

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental research · 2024
Study typereview
Reported directionBenefit
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Electric vehicles and health: A scoping review Pennington AF, Cornwell CR, Sircar KD, Mirabelli MC. Electric vehicles and health: A scoping review. Environ Res. 2024 Mar 16:118697. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118697. Abstract Background: The health impacts of the rapid transition to the use of electric vehicles are largely unexplored. We completed a scoping review to assess the state of the evidence on use of battery electric and hybrid electric vehicles and health. Methods: We conducted a literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, Scopus, and Environmental Science Collection databases for articles published January 1990 to January 2024. We included articles if they presented observed or modeled data on the association between battery electric or hybrid electric cars, trucks, or buses and health-related outcomes. We abstracted data and summarized results. Results: Out of 897 reviewed articles, 52 met our inclusion criteria. The majority of included articles examined transitions to the use of electric vehicles (n = 49, 94%), with fewer studies examining hybrid electric vehicles (n = 11, 21%) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (n = 8, 15%). The most common outcomes examined were premature death (n = 41, 79%) and monetized health outcomes such as medical expenditures (n = 33, 63%). We identified only one observational study on the impact of electric vehicles on health; all other studies reported modeled data. Almost every study (n = 51, 98%) reported some evidence of a positive health impact of transitioning to electric or hybrid electric vehicles, although magnitudes of association varied. There was a paucity of information on the environmental justice implications of vehicle transitions. Conclusions: The results of the current literature on electric vehicles and health suggest an overall positive health impact of transitioning to electric vehicles. Additional observational studies would help expand our understanding of the real-world health effects of electric vehicles. Future research focused on the environmental justice implications of vehicle fleet transitions could provide additional information about the extent to which the health benefits occur equitably across populations. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typereview
Effect directionbenefit
PopulationNot supplied
Sample size52
Exposurearticles published January 1990 to January 2024
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In a scoping review of 52 included articles (from 897 reviewed), nearly all studies (51/52) reported some evidence of a positive health impact of transitioning to electric or hybrid electric vehicles, though effect magnitudes varied. Only one included study was observational; the remainder reported modeled data. The review noted limited information on environmental justice implications.

Outcomes measured

  • premature death
  • monetized health outcomes (e.g., medical expenditures)
  • health-related outcomes (general)

Limitations

  • Only one observational study was identified; most evidence was modeled data.
  • Magnitudes of association varied across studies.
  • Paucity of information on environmental justice implications of vehicle transitions.
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "review",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "electric vehicles (battery electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid); cars, trucks, buses",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "articles published January 1990 to January 2024"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": 52,
  "outcomes": [
    "premature death",
    "monetized health outcomes (e.g., medical expenditures)",
    "health-related outcomes (general)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In a scoping review of 52 included articles (from 897 reviewed), nearly all studies (51/52) reported some evidence of a positive health impact of transitioning to electric or hybrid electric vehicles, though effect magnitudes varied. Only one included study was observational; the remainder reported modeled data. The review noted limited information on environmental justice implications.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Only one observational study was identified; most evidence was modeled data.",
    "Magnitudes of association varied across studies.",
    "Paucity of information on environmental justice implications of vehicle transitions."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electric vehicles",
    "battery electric vehicles",
    "hybrid electric vehicles",
    "plug-in hybrid electric vehicles",
    "health impacts",
    "premature death",
    "modeled data",
    "environmental justice",
    "scoping review"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118697
PubMed: 38499224

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