Environmental Health Economic Analyses
| Environmental Health Economic Analyses | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Investigator & Grant Number | Project Title | EHEA Question | Finding | Publication | Project Officer | Funding Years |
| Sara Adar R01ES028694 |
The Impact of Airborne Particles and Ozone on Cognition, Mobility, and Health Care Spending at Older Ages: Evidence from a Nationally Representative Longitudinal Cohort | What is the impact of air pollution on health care costs for older adults? | No economic findings yet. | No economic related publications yet. | Abee Boyles | 2018-2018 |
| Sharon Croissant and Cornelis Elferink U19ES020676 |
Community Health Assessment of Risks associated with the Macondo Spill | What is the economic impact of the Macondo Oil Spill on the Gulf seafood industry and safe consumption of fish? | No economic findings yet. | No economic related publications yet. | Symma Finn | 2011-2015 |
| Oliver Deschenes R21ES019375 |
Using Medication Purchases to Measure the Health Consequences of Air Pollution | How does air pollution/ozone impact medication purchases (as a cost of climate change)? | Researchers were unable to answer these questions for two reasons. First because of the difficulty in getting reliable predictions on future ozone levels associated with global climate models. Second, problems with the research design (absence of a valid instrumental variable for ambient ozone concentrations) preclude this sort of analysis. This is not a problem we anticipated at the time we prepared the grant proposal. | Deschenes O, Greenstone M, Shapiro JS. 2012. Defensive Investments and the Demand for Air Quality: Evidence from the NOx Budget Program and Ozone Reductions. The National Bureau of Economic Research. 10.3386/w18267 [Abstract Deschenes O, Greenstone M, Shapiro JS. 2012. Defensive Investments and the Demand for Air Quality: Evidence from the NOx Budget Program and Ozone Reductions. The National Bureau of Economic Research. 10.3386/w18267] | Caroline Dilworth | 2010-2010 |
| Maria Fabian R01ES027816 |
Asthma Simulation Tool for Housing, Medication and Social Adversity (Asthma) | What are the cost savings associated with retrofits to improve energy efficiency and increase ventilation in existing affordable housing. | Simulation results show that retrofits lead to overall better health outcomes and healthcare cost savings if reduced air exchange due to energy-saving air tightening is compensated by mechanical ventilation. Especially when exposed to indoor tobacco smoke and intensive gas-stove cooking such retrofit would lead to an average annual cost saving of over USD 200, while without mechanical ventilation the same children would have experienced an increase of almost USD 200/year in health care utilization cost. | Tieskens KF, Milando CW, Underhill LJ, Vermeer K, Levy JI, Fabian MP. The impact of energy retrofits on pediatric asthma exacerbation in a Boston multi-family housing complex: a systems science approach. Environ Health. 2021 Feb 14;20(1):14. doi: 10.1186/s12940-021-00699-x. PMID: 33583411; PMCID: PMC7883428. | Lindsey Martin | 2017-2021 |
| Rebecca Fry T32ES007018 |
Biostatistics for Research in Environmental Health | Can extending regulated community water service to households with private wells decrease health care costs associated with acute gastrointestinal illness? | The researchers estimate that extending community water service to just 10 percent of the population currently using private wells in North Carolina could prevent 2,920 annual emergency department visits for acute GI illness. | DeFelice NB, Johnston JE, Gibson JM. (2016). Reducing Emergency Department Visits for Acute Gastrointestinal Illnesses in North Carolina (USA) by Extending Community Water Service. Environmental Health Perspectives, 124, (10). [Abstract DeFelice NB, Johnston JE, Gibson JM. (2016). Reducing Emergency Department Visits for Acute Gastrointestinal Illnesses in North Carolina (USA) by Extending Community Water Service. Environmental Health Perspectives, 124, (10).] | Carol Shreffler | 1977-2018 |
| Frank Gilliland, Rob McConnell, and Edward Avol P01ES009581 P30ES007048 R01ES014447 R01ES014708 R01ES016535 |
N/A | What is the impact of near-roadway air pollution on mortality and costs associated with hospitalizations? | The researchers developed an economic framework that can be used to estimate the benefits of regulations to improve air quality. CHD attributable to NRAP has a large economic impact that is expected to increase by 2035, largely due to an aging population. PM2.5-attributable costs may underestimate total value of air pollution-attributable CHD. | Brandt S, Dickinson B, Ghosh R, Lurmann F, Perez L, Penfold B, Wilson J, Künzli N, McConnell R. (2017). Costs of coronary heart disease and mortality associated with near-roadway air pollution. Science of the Total Environment. 601-602. [Abstract Brandt S, Dickinson B, Ghosh R, Lurmann F, Perez L, Penfold B, Wilson J, Künzli N, McConnell R. (2017). Costs of coronary heart disease and mortality associated with near-roadway air pollution. Science of the Total Environment. 601-602.] | Claudia Thompson, Kim Gray | P01ES009581: 1998-2007 P30ES007048: 1997-2018 R01ES014447: 2006-2009 R01ES014708: 2006-2010 R01ES016535: 2008-2011 |
| Jonathan Levy R21ES017522 |
A Discrete Event Simulation Model of Environmental Exposures and Pediatric Asthma | What is the impact of building interventions on indoor environmental quality and pediatric asthma health care use, and what are the cost comparisons between intervention and health care costs and energy savings? | Interventions, such as integrated pest management and repairing kitchen exhaust fans, led to 7% to 12% reductions in serious asthma events with 1- to 3-year payback periods. Weatherization efforts targeted solely toward tightening a building envelope led to 20% more serious asthma events, but bundling with repairing kitchen exhaust fans and eliminating indoor sources (eg, gas stoves or smokers) mitigated this effect. | Fabian MP, Adamkiewicz G, Stout NK, Sandel M, Levy JI. A simulation model of building intervention impacts on indoor environmental quality, pediatric asthma, and costs. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014 Jan;133(1):77-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.06.003. Epub 2013 Jul 31. PMID: 23910689; PMCID: PMC3874261. | Caroline Dilworth | 2009-2010 |
| Philippe Grandjean R01ES009797 |
Mercury Associated Neurobehavioral Deficit in Children | Can we improve the method used to calculate the burden of disease associated with environmental chemical exposures? | Including toxicological and epidemiological information and data on exposure distributions results in more representative economic analyses of the adverse effects associated with environmental chemicals. | Grandjean P, and Bellanger M. (2017). Calculation of the disease burden associated with environmental chemical exposures: application of toxicological information in health economic estimation. Environmental Health, 16, (123). [Abstract Grandjean P, and Bellanger M. (2017). Calculation of the disease burden associated with environmental chemical exposures: application of toxicological information in health economic estimation. Environmental Health, 16, (123).] | Annette Kirshner | 2007-2011 |
| Darby Jack R01ES024489 |
Understanding Adoption of Clean Cookstoves | What are women in Ghana willing to pay for high efficiency cookstoves? Does the use of high efficiency cookstoves free up time that can be used for other (income producing) activities? | No economic findings yet. | No economic related publications yet. | Claudia Thompson | 2014-2017 |
| Mandeep Jassal K23ES023814 |
Contingency Management to Reduce Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Asthmatic Children | Can we reduce children's exposure to second hand smoke by offering the adult smokers in the household financial incentives to quit smoking? | No economic findings yet. | No economic related publications yet. | Kimberly Gray | 2015-2015 |
| James W. Krieger R01ES014583 |
HomeBASE (Home-Based Asthma Support and Education for Adults) | Can we develop a cost effective, home-based, asthma intervention that increases asthma symptom-free days and quality of life and reduces urgent health service use? | The HomeBASE delivered an intervention that included an average of 4–5 home visits during a 1–year period to assess asthma control, self management, and home environment and to support asthma self-care strategies. The approach used for home visits is practical and inexpensive, suggesting that, if additional studies confirm our findings, adoption by organizations serving similar populations would be feasible and beneficial. The cost per participant was approximately $1300 (2013 US dollars), substantially less than 1 year’s supply of an inhaled corticosteroid. | Krieger J, Song L, Philby M. (2015). Community health worker home visits for adults with uncontrolled asthma: the HomeBASE Trial randomized clinical trial. JAMA Internal Medicine 175(1):109-17. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2 014.6353. [Abstract Krieger J, Song L, Philby M. (2015). Community health worker home visits for adults with uncontrolled asthma: the HomeBASE Trial randomized clinical trial. JAMA Internal Medicine 175(1):109-17. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2 014.6353.] | Caroline Dilworth | 2007-2011 |
| John Morris U19ES020683 |
Health Impact of Deepwater Horizon Spill in Eastern Gulf Coast Communities | What is the economic impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on adults working in the fishing, harvesting, seafood processing, or service/ tourism industries in the Gulf Goast | The loss of income associated with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill has a long-term impact on behavioral health. | Buckingham-Howes S, Holmes K, Glenn Morris J, Grattan LM. Prolonged Financial Distress After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Predicts Behavioral Health. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research (2018) 46: 294. [Abstract Buckingham-Howes S, Holmes K, Glenn Morris J, Grattan LM. Prolonged Financial Distress After the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Predicts Behavioral Health. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research (2018) 46: 294.] | Symma Finn | 2015-2015 |
| Matthew J. Neidell R21ES019670 |
The Impact of Environmental Conditions on the Productivity of Agricultural Worker | How is agricultural worker productivity impacted by extreme heat events/ ozone levels? | Our main finding was that a 10 parts per billion increase in ozone lowers worker productivity by 5.5 percent. We also extended this aim by collaborating with two other economists to examine the relationship between environmental conditions and worker productivity, focusing on indoor manufacturing in a factory setting. Our main finding was that fine particulate matter significantly decreases indoor worker productivity, thus offering an important extension to a more sizeable sector of the United States economy. We also explored whether several factors moderated the relationship between ozone and worker productivity. We found that worker experience did not moderate the relationship, suggesting more experienced workers do not appear any better able to moderate the impacts of ozone. We found that, contrary to much laboratory evidence, ozone had a smaller impact on the productivity of female workers, though the magnitude of this difference was very small. These findings have been widely disseminated at various academic and policy seminars. In the short period since publication, this work has been influential on policy, as evidenced by recent efforts to incorporate the main estimates into both Regulatory Impact Analyses and the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP) managed by the Environmental Protection Agency. |
Graff Zivin J, and Neidell M. 2012. The Impact of Pollution on Worker Productivity. American Economic Review 102(7): 3652-73 [Abstract Graff Zivin J, and Neidell M. 2012. The Impact of Pollution on Worker Productivity. American Economic Review 102(7): 3652-73] Graff Zivin J, and Neidell M. 2013. Environment, Health, and Human Capital. Journal of Economic Literature 51(3): 689-730. [Abstract Graff Zivin J, and Neidell M. 2013. Environment, Health, and Human Capital. Journal of Economic Literature 51(3): 689-730.] Chang T, Graff Zivin JS, Gross T, and Neidell M. 2014. Particulate Pollution and the Productivity of Pear Packers. The National Bureau of Economic Research. 10.3386/w19944 [Abstract Chang T, Graff Zivin JS, Gross T, and Neidell M. 2014. Particulate Pollution and the Productivity of Pear Packers. The National Bureau of Economic Research. 10.3386/w19944] |
Caroline Dilworth | 2011-2012 |
| Johnathan Patz R21ES020232 |
Climate Change Impacts on Power Plant Emissions, Air Quality, and Health in the US | What is the impact impacts of heat-driven adaptation through building cooling demand on air-quality-related health outcomes in a representative mid-century climate scenario? | Health impacts assessment finds that for a mid-century climate change scenario (with adaptation), annual PM2.5- related adult mortality increases by 13,547 deaths (approximately US$126 billion cost) and annual O3-related adult mortality increases by 3,514 deaths (approximately US$32.5 billion cost), calculated as a 3-month summer estimate based on July modeling. Air conditioning adaptation accounts for 654 (range of 87 to 1,245) of the PM2.5-related deaths (approximately US$6 billion cost, a 4.8% increase above climate change impacts alone) and 315 (range of 198 to 438) of the O3-related deaths (approximately US$3 billion cost, an 8.7% increase above climate change impacts alone). | Abel DW et al. (2018). Airquality-related health impacts from climate change and from adaptation of cooling demand for buildings in the eastern United States: An interdisciplinary modeling study. PLoS Med, 15, (7). [Abstract Abel DW et al. (2018). Airquality-related health impacts from climate change and from adaptation of cooling demand for buildings in the eastern United States: An interdisciplinary modeling study. PLoS Med, 15, (7).] | Caroline Dilworth | 2011-2012 |
| Frederica Perera P50ES009600 |
The Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health | What is the cost of IQ loss associated with air pollution? | Restricting to NYC Medicaid births and using a 5% discount rate, we estimated the gain in lifetime earnings due to IQ increase for a single year cohort to be $215 million (best estimate). Using much more conservative assumptions, the estimate was $43 million. This analysis suggests that a modest reduction in ambient concentrations of PAH is associated with substantial economic benefits to children. | Frederica Perera, Katherine Weiland, Matthew Neidell, Shuang Wang. Prenatal exposure to airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and IQ: Estimated benefit of pollution reduction. Journal of Public Health Policy, 2014; DOI: 10.1057/jphp.2014.14. | Kimberly Gray | 1998-2017 |
| James West R21ES022600 |
Climate Change and Future Air Pollution Mortality: Exploration of Scenarios and Benefits of Actions Using Global Atmospheric Modeling | What is the potential economic impact of reducing greenhouse gas emissions? | Global GHG mitigation avoids 0.5±0.2, 1.3±0.5, and 2.2±0.8 million premature deaths in 2030, 2050, and 2100. Global average marginal co-benefits of avoided mortality are $50–380 (ton CO2)−1, which exceed previous estimates, exceed marginal abatement costs in 2030 and 2050, and are within the low range of costs in 2100. | West, J. J., Smith, S. J., Silva, R. A., Naik, V., Zhang, Y., Adelman, Z., Fry, M. M., Anenberg, S., Horowitz, L. W., & Lamarque, J. F. 2013. Co-benefits of global greenhouse gas mitigation for future air quality and human health. Nat Clim Chang, 3(10), 885–889. https://doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE2009 [Abstract West, J. J., Smith, S. J., Silva, R. A., Naik, V., Zhang, Y., Adelman, Z., Fry, M. M., Anenberg, S., Horowitz, L. W., & Lamarque, J. F. 2013. Co-benefits of global greenhouse gas mitigation for future air quality and human health. Nat Clim Chang, 3(10), 885–889. https://doi.org/10.1038/NCLIMATE2009] | Caroline Dilworth | 2013-2014 |
Worker Training Economic Impacts
| Worker Training Economic Impacts | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Investigator & Grant Number | Project Title | EHEA Question | Finding | Publication | Project Officer | Funding Years |
| Salvatore Cali U45ES007850 |
OAI Environmental Careers Worker Training Consortium | What is the economic impact of providing health and safety training to workers in terms of reducing lost wages because of injury and increasing wages as a result of specialized training and skills? | No economic findings yet. | No economic related publications yet. | Sharon Beard | 1995-2017 |
| Mitchel Rosen U45ES006179 |
Hazardous Materials Worker Health and Safety Training | What is the economic impact of the Environmental Career Worker Training Program? | The majority of participants in the ECWTP are still working with high wages, 94% begin union apprenticeships. Earnings are between $50,000 and $74,999 annually, which equates to average earnings for 3rd or 4th year apprentices. While 33% earned above $75,000, which equates to average earnings of journeymen. All respondents indicated they had reached at least one significant financial milestone and 57% claim to have a good credit score. We also found that respondents appeared to be optimistic about long-term financial goals. 62% indicated they planned to retire in the job they have now. 52% have started planning for retirement and 37% have investments in addition to their retirement/pension plans. | No economic related publications yet. | Sharon Beard | 1992-2022 |
| Darius Sivin U45ES006180 |
UAW Hazardous Material Worker Health and Safety Training (U45) | What is the economic impact of making changes to health and safety practices? | One delegate reported that they started a health and safety committee after attending Black Lake and saved their employer thousands of dollars in insurance costs. | No economic related publications yet. | Demia Wright | 1992-2022 |
Commercialization/Cost Benefit Analysis
| Commercialization/Cost Benefit Analysis | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal Investigator & Grant Number | Project Title | EHEA Question | Finding | Publication | Project Officer | Funding Years |
| Terence Patrick Barry R44ES017576 |
Continued Development of Photoelectroca talytic Oxidation for Treating Gasoline Co | How effective is our highly efficient, and cost-effective photoelectrocatalytic oxidation technology at treating MTBE contamination in water, both as a stand-alone treatment and as the first stage of a two-stage treatment process in which granular activated carbon is used to polish the water? | The product was developed and is now commercially available. The developer was able to obtain significant funding/investments to continue research and commercial development and deployment of the product. The final report does not contain a specific mention of cost-effectiveness. | No economic related publications yet. | Heather Henry | 2009-2012 |
| Manal Beshay R44ES019844 |
Chemical Identification Device for First Responders | Can we build a cost effective handheld chemical detection device that will enable first responders to rapidly and accurately identify multiple contaminants, measure their concentration, and define site boundaries? | This project saw the development of a cost effective, handheld chemical detection device that will enable first responders to rapidly and accurately identify several hazardous chemicals and toxins, and reliably measure their concentration. The innovative IOS multichannel optical sensor array (MOSA) device incorporates a disposable optical chip containing several chemically sensitive optical channels, with an optoelectronics and signal processing unit. Each optical channel consists of a chemically-permeable optical polymer impregnated with a chemical indicator that undergoes a large and rapid optical change in the presence of a target analyte. The handheld unit has an advanced system of semiconductor light sources and detectors to monitor changes in the light that is guided through the sensors. Disposable chips with a specific "panel" of indicator waveguides can be designed to meet a variety of applications, enabling MOSA to be used in virtually any chemical detection application. | No economic related publications yet. | Theodore Outwater | 2005-2012 |
| Michael J. Blaylock R43ES025483 |
Endophyte Assisted Phytoremediati on of Arsenic | Can we develop a low cost tool for removal of arsenic from contaminated soils? | No economic findings yet. | No economic related publications yet. | Heather Henry | 2015-2015 |
| Steven N. Chillrud R33ES024734 |
Potential Inhaled Dose of Particulates, Biking and Cardiovascular Indicators | Can we build a cheaper, more effective air pollution sensor? | No economic findings yet. | No economic related publications yet. | David Balshaw | 2017-2017 |
| Andrew Feiring R43ES022870 |
Enhanced Membrane Systems for Supplying Quality Drinking Water | Can we develop a cost effective system for using enhanced oxidation chemicals (EOC) resistant membranes for supplying EOCs as a strategy for reducing the cost of water disinfection? | While the membranes were successfully fabricated that were not successful in nonlaboratory testing. No specific economic findings were reported. | No economic related publications yet. | Daniel Shaughnessy | 2013-2013 |
| Pat James R43ES020096 |
Value Added Product Generation from ARD | Can we demonstrate the ability of a new core technology variant to profitability remove iron (a predominant contaminant) from Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) and recover it as a high value product widely used in a variety of number of industrial processes? | The new technology was successfully tested in real world situations. Test showed that it is cost-effective to harvest the iron and the cost for harvesting the iron is well below the value of harvested product. | No economic related publications yet. | Heather Henry | 2011-2011 |
| Kaspars Krutkrame Lis R44ES024620 |
On-site Mercury Remediation via Activated Fly Ash | Can we design a new, cost-effective Hg capture technology to mitigate human health risks and associated national healthcare costs, and to control industry/consumer costs under the upcoming regulations related to coal-fired power plants and burners? | No economic findings yet. | No economic related publications yet. | Heather Henry | 2014-2017 |
| Jennifer Rettew McCall R42ES023724 |
Development of User Friendly Fluorescence Based Assays for Marine Toxins | Can we develop a fluorescence based receptor binding assay (FBA) for the detection of marine neurotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (saxitoxin) and amnesic shellfish poisoning (domoic acid) that are more cost-effective and have higher sensitivity than current assays that are available? | By the end of Phase II experiments, we will have a validated animal-free assay kit for PbTxs, CTXs, and DA that does not need to be continuously frozen to retain utility. This will result in an economical alternative test for these marine neurotoxins ideal for locations both inside and outside of the US where these toxins are endemic. | No economic related publications yet. | Daniel Shaughnessy | 2014-2018 |
| Curtis William Onan (contact), Annie Elise Belcourt, and Anthony John Ward R44ES015422 |
Arsenic Selective Ligand- Anchored Fiber for Purification of Drinking Water | Can we develop an arsenic selective ligand-anchored fiber adsorbent that can be used to remove arsenic from drinking water with higher capacity, good selectivity, and enhanced robustness compared to conventional technologies such as ion exchange, activated alumina, and others? | A provisional patent application has been filed (application #61802514; filed March 16, 2013) on our invention titled "Selective Adsorbent Fabric for Water Purification". Our arsenic–removing filter can be used in point of use water filtration modules or large-scale municipal water treatment plants. We will license our filter to established filtration companies with a strong presence in the US (~$3B) and global (>$30B) water filtration markets. Our filter will benefit the ~70 million Americans drinking water with unsafe levels of arsenic as well as the millions of residents of arsenic-rich Thailand, Indonesia, and Africa. No specific findings related to cost-effectiveness were reported. | No economic related publications yet. | Daniel Shaughnessy | 2007-2011 |
| Joseph Salanitro R44ES022123 |
Development of a High-Performance Bioprocess for Eliminating 1,4-Dioxane in Water | Can we develop a novel high performance, cost–effective, water technology to degrade 1,4–dioxane into harmless products? | The product was successfully developed and tested and is now commercially available. Overall, the project is likely to contribute to significantly lower costs for communities with 1,4–dioxane contamination. The recovery of value otherwise spent on expensive and energy–intense oxidation technologies will contribute to the economic growth of local communities and municipalities, as well as Federal sites containing 1,4–dioxane. | No economic related publications yet. | Heather Henry | 2012-2015 |
| Takuji Tsukamoto R43ES020665 |
Smart Absorption System for Removal of Toxic, Organic Chemicals from Drinking Water | Can we build a cost effective smart adsorption system for removing organic chemicals from drinking water? | A prototype adsorption system was found to effectively and efficiently remove chemicals from sampled well water. Specific cost-effectiveness findings were not reported. | No economic related publications yet. | Daniel Shaughnessy | 2011-2011 |