Valuing the health impacts from particulate air pollution in Tianjin

Yuan Zhou and Richard S.J. Tol ()

No FNU-89, Working Papers from Research unit Sustainability and Global Change, Hamburg University

Abstract: Although China has made dramatic economic progress in recent years, air pollution continues to be the most visible environmental problem and imposes significant health and economic costs on society. Using data on pollutant concentration and population for 2003, this paper estimates the economic costs of health related effects due to particulate air pollution in urban areas of Tianjin, China. Exposure-response functions are used to quantify the impact on human health. Value of a statistical life and benefit transfer are used to obtain the unit value of some health effects. Our results show significant health costs associated with air pollution in Tianjin. The total economic cost is estimated to be US$1.1 billion, about 3.7% of Tianjin’s GDP in 2003. The findings underscore the importance of urban air pollution control. Finally, the policy implications for alternative energy options and climate policies are given.

Keywords: particulate air pollution; PM10; economic valuation; Tianjin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q51 Q53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cna, nep-ene, nep-env and nep-hea
Date: 2005-09, Revised 2005-09
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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sgc:wpaper:89

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