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It's an ill wind: The effect of fine particulate air pollution on respiratory hospitalizations

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  • Courtney J. Ward

Abstract

While a growing literature in economics has established the harmful health effects of longstanding criteria air pollutants such as ozone and carbon monoxide, fine particulate air pollution is relatively understudied. This paper provides evidence on the harmful effects of fine particulate pollution for Ontario, where municipalities enjoy particulate levels well below US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards and predominantly below Canada‐wide standards. Results provide strong evidence for the detrimental effect of fine particulate pollution for the respiratory health of children, with a one standard deviation change in particulate pollution, leading to a 4% increase in respiratory admissions. While these results inform the stringency of current pollution standards, they also highlight the importance of an international approach to air quality. For instance, the paper also shows that particulate levels in Ontario municipalities are strongly influenced by southerly winds from US jurisdictions, which adhere to more lenient EPA standards. L’effet de la pollution de l’air aux particules fines sur les hospitalisations pour problèmes respiratoires. Alors qu’une littérature abondante en économie a établi les effets délétères sur la santé de polluants de l’air comme l’ozone et le monoxide de carbone, la pollution de l’air aux particules fines n’a pas été beaucoup étudiée. Ce texte donne des résultats sur les effets délétères des particules fines en Ontario, où les municipalités ont des niveaux de particules bien inférieurs aux standards de l’Agence de Protection de l’Environnement (APE) et en dessous des standards pancanadiens. Les résultats probants montrent l’effet délétère de la pollution de l’air aux particules fines sur la santé respiratoire des enfants : une déviation standard dans la pollution de l’air aux particules fines conduisant à une augmentation de 4% dans les hospitalisations. Alors que ces résultats fondent la rigueur des standards en place, ils soulignent aussi l’importance d’une approche internationale au problème de la qualité de l’air. Ainsi le texte montre que les niveaux de particules dans les municipalités de l’Ontario sont fortement influencés par des vents du sud en provenance des États‐Unis – de juridictions qui ont des standards de type APE plus cléments.

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  • Courtney J. Ward, 2015. "It's an ill wind: The effect of fine particulate air pollution on respiratory hospitalizations," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 48(5), pages 1694-1732, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:48:y:2015:i:5:p:1694-1732
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12177
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    2. Jill Furzer & Boriana Miloucheva, 2020. "The Long Arm of the Clean Air Act: Pollution Abatement and COVID-19 Racial Disparities," Working Papers tecipa-668, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
    3. Tatyana Deryugina & Nolan Miller & David Molitor & Julian Reif, 2021. "Geographic and Socioeconomic Heterogeneity in the Benefits of Reducing Air Pollution in the United States," Environmental and Energy Policy and the Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 2(1), pages 157-189.
    4. Rudi Rocha & André Sant’Anna, 2020. "Winds of Fire and Smoke: Air Pollution and Health in the Brazilian Amazon," Working Papers 07, Instituto de Estudos para Políticas de Saúde.
    5. Duque, Valentina & Gilraine, Michael, 2020. "Coal Use and Student Performance," Working Papers 2020-07, University of Sydney, School of Economics.
    6. Rocha, Rudi & Sant’Anna, André Albuquerque, 2022. "Winds of fire and smoke: Air pollution and health in the Brazilian Amazon," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    7. Zhuanlan Sun & Demi Zhu, 2019. "Exposure to outdoor air pollution and its human health outcomes: A scoping review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, May.
    8. Singh, Tejendra Pratap & Visaria, Sujata, 2021. "Up in the Air: Air Pollution and Crime – Evidence from India," SocArXiv hs4xj, Center for Open Science.
    9. McKenzie H. Tilstra & Ishwar Tiwari & Leigh Niwa & Sandra Campbell & Charlene C. Nielsen & C. Allyson Jones & Alvaro Osornio Vargas & Okan Bulut & Bernadette Quemerais & Jordana Salma & Kyle Whitfield, 2021. "Risk and Resilience: How Is the Health of Older Adults and Immigrant People Living in Canada Impacted by Climate- and Air Pollution-Related Exposures?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-22, October.

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