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Environmental Health Economic Analysis Annotated Bibliography

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Details

Research article
Authors

Hall JV, Winer AM, Kleinman MT, Lurmann FW, Brajer V, and Colome SD

Journal

Science

Summary
An assessment of health effects due to ozone and particulate matter (PM10) suggested that among the 12 million residents of the South Coast Air Basin of California, individuals experienced ozone-related symptoms on an average of up to 17 days each year, and face an increased risk of death in any year of 1/10,000 as a result of elevated PM10 exposure. The estimated annual economic value of avoiding these effects was estimated to be nearly $10 billion. The authors concluded that attaining air pollution standards may save 1,600 lives a year in the region.
Population

Not available

Health Outcomes

  • Mortality, Respiratory outcomes

Health Outcome List:

  • Mortality
  • respiratory outcomes (cough, chest discomfort, sore throat, eye irritation, headaches)

Environmental Agents

List of Environmental Agents:

  • Air Pollutants (ozone, particulate matter (PM10/coarse))

Source of Environmental Agents:

  • Indoor pollution
  • in-vehicle pollution

Economic Evaluation / Methods and Source

Type:

  • Cost-benefit analysis (CBA), Cost-utility analysis (CUA)

Cost Measures:

  • Minor restricted activity days
  • restricted activity days
  • economic value of attaining national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS)

Potential Cost Measures:

  • Not available

Benefits Measures:

  • Lives saved
  • reduced symptoms

Potential Benefits Measures:

  • Improvements in visibility
  • protection of materials or vegetation
  • prevention of chronic lung disease
  • reduced greenhouse gas
  • reduced ecosystem effects

Location:

  • South Coast Air Basin in California, USA

Models Used:

  • Regional Human Exposure (REHEX) model

Models References:

  • References cited in publication — Winer et al. (1989) Characterization of Air Pollutant Exposures in the California South Coast Air Basin: Application of a New Regional Human Exposure (REHEX) Model

Methods Used:

  • The authors assessed the health effects due to ozone and particulate matter in the South Coast Air Basin in California. The authors — 1) characterized exposure and dose using the Regional Human Exposure Model which estimates a population's typical indoor, outdoor, and in-vehicle exposures during the day; 2) estimated concentration of exposure to pollutants by corresponding district assigned locations in an ambient air monitoring network for each of nine demographic groups; 3) calculated the statistical value of lives saved; and 4) used three economic measures to value pollution related health effects — cost of illness (CO), willingness to pay (WTP), and willingness to accept (WTA).

Sources Used:

  • Air quality monitoring data from the South Coast Air Quality Management District; Effects on human health of pollutants in the South Coast Air Basin (Kleinman et al., 1989); additional sources cited in publication

Economic Citation / Fundings

Citation:

  • Hall JV, Winer AM, Kleinman MT, Lurmann FW, Brajer V, and Colome SD. Valuing the health benefits of clean air. Science. 1992. 255; 5046.
  • Pubmed

NIEHS Funding:

  • Not available

Other Funding: Not available