Avoidable Mortality Attributable to Anthropogenic Fine Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) in Australia

Ivan C. Hanigan, Richard A. Broome, Timothy B. Chaston, Martin Cope, Martine Dennekamp, Jane S. Heyworth, Katharine Heathcote, Joshua A. Horsley, Bin Jalaludin, Edward Jegasothy, Fay H. Johnston, Luke D. Knibbs, Gavin Pereira, Sotiris Vardoulakis, Stephen Vander Hoorn and Geoffrey G. Morgan
Additional contact information
Ivan C. Hanigan: University Centre for Rural Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Richard A. Broome: Centre for Air Pollution Energy and Health Research (CAR), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Timothy B. Chaston: University Centre for Rural Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Martin Cope: Centre for Air Pollution Energy and Health Research (CAR), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Martine Dennekamp: Centre for Air Pollution Energy and Health Research (CAR), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Jane S. Heyworth: Centre for Air Pollution Energy and Health Research (CAR), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Katharine Heathcote: University Centre for Rural Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Joshua A. Horsley: University Centre for Rural Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Bin Jalaludin: Centre for Air Pollution Energy and Health Research (CAR), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Edward Jegasothy: University Centre for Rural Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Fay H. Johnston: Centre for Air Pollution Energy and Health Research (CAR), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Luke D. Knibbs: Centre for Air Pollution Energy and Health Research (CAR), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Gavin Pereira: Centre for Air Pollution Energy and Health Research (CAR), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Sotiris Vardoulakis: Centre for Air Pollution Energy and Health Research (CAR), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Stephen Vander Hoorn: Centre for Air Pollution Energy and Health Research (CAR), Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Geoffrey G. Morgan: University Centre for Rural Health, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Ambient fine particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ) air pollution increases premature mortality globally. Some PM 2.5 is natural, but anthropogenic PM 2.5 is comparatively avoidable. We determined the impact of long-term exposures to the anthropogenic PM component on mortality in Australia. PM 2.5 -attributable deaths were calculated for all Australian Statistical Area 2 (SA2; n = 2310) regions. All-cause death rates from Australian mortality and population databases were combined with annual anthropogenic PM 2.5 exposures for the years 2006–2016. Relative risk estimates were derived from the literature. Population-weighted average PM 2.5 concentrations were estimated in each SA2 using a satellite and land use regression model for Australia. PM 2.5 -attributable mortality was calculated using a health-impact assessment methodology with life tables and all-cause death rates. The changes in life expectancy (LE) from birth, years of life lost (YLL), and economic cost of lost life years were calculated using the 2019 value of a statistical life. Nationally, long-term population-weighted average total and anthropogenic PM 2.5 concentrations were 6.5 µg/m 3 (min 1.2–max 14.2) and 3.2 µg/m 3 (min 0–max 9.5), respectively. Annually, anthropogenic PM 2.5 -pollution is associated with 2616 (95% confidence intervals 1712, 3455) deaths, corresponding to a 0.2-year (95% CI 0.14, 0.28) reduction in LE for children aged 0–4 years, 38,962 (95%CI 25,391, 51,669) YLL and an average annual economic burden of $6.2 billion (95%CI $4.0 billion, $8.1 billion). We conclude that the anthropogenic PM 2.5 -related costs of mortality in Australia are higher than community standards should allow, and reductions in emissions are recommended to achieve avoidable mortality.

Keywords: anthropogenic air pollution; premature deaths; avoidable mortality; burden of disease (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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