Assessing the Health Vulnerability Caused by Climate and Air Pollution in Korea Using the Fuzzy TOPSIS

Hyun-Joo Bae, Jung Eun Kang and Yu-Ra Lim
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Hyun-Joo Bae: Korea Environment Institute; 370 Sicheong-daero, Sejong 30147, Korea
Jung Eun Kang: Department of Urban Planning and Engineering, Pusan National University; 2 Busandaehak-ro 63beongil, Busan 46241, Korea
Yu-Ra Lim: Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center; 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Korea

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: The effects of climate change and air pollution on health have become major topics of discussion and conducting an assessment on the vulnerabilities of climate change is essential to providing a solution for it. This study assesses human vulnerability to the health effects of climate change and ozone. We classified 27 detailed vulnerability indicators into eight categories and assessed the vulnerability of 249 jurisdictions in South Korea by applying the Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Situation method. The results indicated that metropolitan and major urban areas were more vulnerable than other areas. Furthermore, factors such as air pollution, meteorological conditions, a vulnerable environment, the distribution of disease, health/medical capacities, and air pollution control had a significant impact on vulnerability. A validity analysis was on the vulnerability assessment results and the number of new patients diagnosed with diseases associated with the cardiovascular system; the results indicated a 66.9% correlation, signifying a considerably high validity. The proposed method for assessing vulnerabilities in terms of the health effects of air pollution is objective and based on data; thus, it is expected to present a high degree of applicability. The results can also be a critical foundation upon which to establish health policies.

Keywords: fuzzy TOPSIS; climate change; air pollution; ozone; vulnerability assessment; human health impact (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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