London Fog: A Century of Pollution and Mortality, 1866-1965

W Hanlon

No 24488, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: This study provides new evidence on the impact of air pollution in a high-pollution high-mortality setting: London over the century from 1866-1965. I identify pollution effects by comparing detailed new weekly mortality data to the timing of London's famous fog events, which trapped emissions in the city. My results show that acute pollution exposure due to fog events accounted for at least one out of every 200 deaths in London during this century. I also provide the first well-identified evidence that the presence of two infectious diseases of the respiratory system, measles and tuberculosis, increased the mortality effects of pollution. As a result, success in reducing the disease burden in London in the 20th century lowered the impact of pollution exposure and shifted the distribution of pollution effects across age groups. These interactions have implications for developing countries, where both diseases remain important.

JEL-codes: I15 N3 Q53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env, nep-hea, nep-his and nep-ure
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

Published as W. Walker Hanlon, 2024. "London Fog: A Century of Pollution and Mortality, 1866–1965," Review of Economics and Statistics, vol 106(4), pages 910-923.

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Related works:
Journal Article: London Fog: A Century of Pollution and Mortality, 1866–1965 (2024)
Working Paper: London fog: A century of pollution and mortality, 1866-1965 (2018)
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