Vog: Using Volcanic Eruptions to Estimate the Health Costs of Particulates

Timothy Halliday, John Lynham and Aureo de Paula

No 9398, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: The high correlation of industrial pollutant emissions complicates the estimation of the impact of industrial pollutants on health. To circumvent this, we use emissions from K?lauea volcano, uncorrelated with other pollution sources, to estimate the impact of pollutants on local emergency room admissions and a precise measure of costs. A one standard deviation increase in particulates leads to a 20-30% increase in expenditures on ER visits for pulmonary outcomes mostly among the very young. No strong effects for SO2 pollution or cardiovascular outcomes are found. Since 2008, the volcano has increased healthcare costs in Hawai'i by an estimated $60 million.

Keywords: volcano; health; pollution; particulates; SO2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H51 I12 Q51 Q53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 61 pages
Date: 2015-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene and nep-env
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Published - published in: Economic Journal, 2019, 129 (620),1782–1816,

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Related works:
Journal Article: Vog: Using Volcanic Eruptions to Estimate the Health Costs of Particulates (2019)
Working Paper: Vog: Using Volcanic Eruptions to Estimate the Health Costs of Particulates (2017)
Working Paper: Vog: Using Volcanic Eruptions to Estimate the Health Costs of Particulates (2017)
Working Paper: Vog: Using Volcanic Eruptions to Estimate the Health Costs of Particulates (2016)
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