A new study has revealed that children living within 500m of a major road or freeway are more prone to developing asthma, while adults face an increased likelihood of lung and heart-related illnesses.

The biggest international study on vehicle air pollution and health research has found that traffic pollution within a 500m radius of a major road was likely to aggravate asthma in children, start new asthma cases across all ages, impair lung function in adults and could cause cardiovascular illness and death.

The US Health Effects Institute analysed around 700 worldwide health-pollution studies, and found that there was a clear health risk for those living near arterial roads or highways.

"Reports like this... show that air pollution does impact on human health and provides evidence to support actions to further reduce air pollution," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Stuart McConnell Environment Protection Authority Victoria director as saying.