Cost-benefit analysis as a tool for decision making in environmental projects. Application to a reduction of dioxin emissions in Tarragona Province, Spain.
OBJECTIVE
The Damage-Function method is an efficient tool recently used in decision-making processes concerning environmental management. It is based on finding the relation between the origin of an environmental charge, and its impact on human health and the environment. The aim of the present investigation was to assess the positive impacts, also called benefits, of changes in environmental quality, and the economic viability of an industrial project on reduction of PCDD/F emissions. It has been developed with monetary criteria of two worldwide ambits: USA and European-Union countries.


METHODS
The current study is a continuation of a previous investigation in which Substance Flow Analysis and Control Analysis Techniques were used to identify and to analyze all main flow values of PCDD/Fs inside the system of Tarragona Province (Spain). In the present study, Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) has been employed. The benefits derived from a minimization in the incidence of cancer due to a reduction in the emission of PCDD/Fs have been evaluated considering the value of a statistically saved life (VSL). Statistical analysis about uncertainty has also been incorporated. Here, the Monte Carlo simulation technique has been used.


RESULTS
It is shown that CBS results depend firstly on the kind of VSL used. In fact, the differences between the decisions as a result of applying monetary criteria in USA and EU can be explained by differences between VSL values.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that, for prices estimated in Euros, the emission cleaning project in the industrial plant is not feasible under any circumstance. However, although CBA seems to be a good analytical method, the final decision corresponds to the managers, who must weigh up not only the monetary criteria, but factors such as social questions.
Fuster
Gerard
G
Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Rovira i Virgili University, San Lorenzo 21, 43201 Reus, Spain.
Schuhmacher
Marta
M
Domingo
José L
JL
D001572:Benzofurans / Q000009:adverse effects; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004779:Environment Design / Q000191:economics*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D013030:Spain
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012989:Soil Pollutants