title: A health impact assessment of California's proposed cap-and-trade regulations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify unintended health effects of California's controversial cap-and-trade regulations and establish health-promoting policy recommendations, we performed a health impact assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used literature reviews, public data, and local health surveys to qualitatively assess potential health risks and benefits related to changes in employment and income, energy costs, effects of emission offset projects, and cobenefits from the allocation of program revenue. We examined case studies from various communities to find existing social, economic, and environmental health conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that policy implementation will minimally impact job creation (< 0.1% change) and that health effects from job sector shifts are unlikely. Fuel prices may increase (0%-11%), and minor negative health effects could accrue for some low-income households.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Offset projects would likely benefit environmental health, but more research is needed. Allocating some program revenue for climate change adaptation and mitigation would have substantial health benefits. Health impact assessment is a useful tool for health agencies to engage in policy discussions that typically fall outside public health. Our results can inform emission reduction strategies and cap-and-trade policy at the federal level.
authors: California Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, Richmond, CA 94804, USA. max.richardson@cdph.ca.gov
authors: Maxwell J
authors: MJ
authors: Richardson
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: English
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Rudolph
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D004651:Employment / Q000191:economics; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources / Q000191:economics; D004782:Environmental Health / Q000191:economics*; D017752:Greenhouse Effect / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006291:Health Policy; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D018570:Risk Assessment