Particulate emissions: health effects and labour market consequences.
The objective of this study was to analyse the productivity cost savings associated with mitigation of particulate emissions, as an input to a cost-benefit analysis. Reduced emissions of particulate matter (PM(2.5)) may reduce the incidence of diseases related to air pollution and potentially increase productivity as a result of better health. Based on data from epidemiological studies, we modelled the impact of air pollution on four different diseases: coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We identified individuals with these diseases and modelled changes in disease incidence as an expression of exposure. The labour market affiliation and development in wages over time for exposed individuals was compared to that of a reference group of individuals matched on a number of sociodemographic variables, comorbidity, and predicted smoking status. We identified a productivity cost of about 1.8 million EURO per 100,000 population aged 50-70 in the first year, following an increase in PM(2.5) emissions. We have illustrated how the potential impact of air pollution may influence social production by application of a matched study design that renders a study population similar to that of a trial. The result suggests that there may be a productivity gain associated with mitigation efforts.
Centre for Applied Health Technology Assessment, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 9B 1, 5000 Odense C, Denmark. mkr@dsi.dk
Marie
M
Kruse
Bjørn
B
Sætterstrøm
Jakob
J
Bønløkke
Henrik
H
Brønnum-Hansen
Esben Meulengracht
EM
Flachs
Jan
J
Sørensen
D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter