Economic Benefits of Improving Air Quality and Protecting Children’s Health

Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH)

Economic Benefits of Improving Air Quality and Protecting Children’s Health

August 23, 2018

Interviewee: Sylvia Brandt, Ph.D.

In this podcast, we will explore how the physical, psychological, and economic stress of chronic diseases can be taken in to account when considering air quality. Plus, we will learn about the many social and economic benefits of preventing early exposures and protecting children’s health.

Air pollution, from sources such as automobile traffic and major roadways, is known to be associated with asthma, decreased lung function, cardiovascular diseases, and adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth. Children are particularly at risk because they are still growing and developing, and therefore may be more vulnerable to the impacts of poor air quality.

These diseases have significant healthcare costs, such as medications, visits to specialists, and in some cases emergency room visits. In addition, children with chronic diseases like asthma need special attention, often requiring their parents to take time off from work to provide much needed care.

In this podcast, we will explore how the physical, psychological, and economic stress of chronic diseases can be taken in to account when considering air quality. Plus, we will learn about the many social and economic benefits of preventing early exposures and protecting children’s health.

Interviewee

Sylvia Brandt, Ph.D., is an associate professor of resource economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the School of Public Policy. Brandt’s research is focused on health economics and the effects of environmental regulations on health. She is particularly interested in quantifying the social costs, policy implications, and the economic costs of the rise of asthma among children in the U.S.

Her research has been published in journals such as the American Journal of Public Health and Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Brandt’s research is helping to inform policy related to air quality and risk for chronic diseases in the U.S.

Additional Resources

• Check out the NIEHS Environmental Factor article highlighting Brandt’s work to determine the economic costs of traffic pollution leading to asthma.
• Listen to our podcast on environmental health disparities to learn how researchers are working to address this problem.
• Check out the NIEHS factsheet on asthma and its environmental triggers.
• Listen to our podcast on fighting asthma with a healthy diet to learn more about research aimed at combatting childhood asthma.
• Read more about air pollution and its health effects.
• Listen to our podcast on air pollution and your heart to learn about other health impacts of air pollution.

Relevant References

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. Sci Total Environ 601-602:391-396. [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. Sci Total Environ 601-602:391-396.] 

Ghosh R, Lurmann F, Perez L, Penfold B, Brandt S, Wilson J, Milet M, Künzli N, McConnell R. 2016. Near-Roadway Air Pollution and Coronary Heart Disease: Burden of Disease and Potential Impact of a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy in Southern California. Environ Health Perspect 124(2):193-200. [Abstract Ghosh R, Lurmann F, Perez L, Penfold B, Brandt S, Wilson J, Milet M, Künzli N, McConnell R. 2016. Near-Roadway Air Pollution and Coronary Heart Disease: Burden of Disease and Potential Impact of a Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy in Southern California. Environ Health Perspect 124(2):193-200.] 

Brandt S, Perez L, Künzli N, Lurmann F, Wilson J, Pastor M, McConnell R. 2014. Cost of near-roadway and regional air pollution-attributable childhood asthma in Los Angeles County. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 134(5):1028-35. [Abstract Brandt S, Perez L, Künzli N, Lurmann F, Wilson J, Pastor M, McConnell R. 2014. Cost of near-roadway and regional air pollution-attributable childhood asthma in Los Angeles County. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 134(5):1028-35.] 

Magzamen S, Brandt SJ, Tager IB. 2014. Examining household asthma management behavior through a microeconomic framework. Health Educ Behav. 41(6):651-62. [Abstract Magzamen S, Brandt SJ, Tager IB. 2014. Examining household asthma management behavior through a microeconomic framework. Health Educ Behav. 41(6):651-62.]