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On the Short-term Impact of Pollution: The Effect of PM 2.5 on Emergency Room Visits

Author

Listed:
  • Evangelina Dardati
  • Ramiro de Elejalde
  • Eugenio Giolito

Abstract

In this paper, we study the short-term effect of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure on respiratory Emergency Room (ER) visits in Chile, a middle-income country with high levels of air pollution. To instrument for PM 2.5 we use wind speed at different altitudes (pressure levels). Unlike previous papers, our data allow us to study the impact of increasing air pollution at high levels of pollution. We find that a1microgram per cubic meter (μg/m3) increase in PM 2.5 exposure for one day increases ER visits for respiratory illness by 0.36 percent. The effect is positive for all age groups, including the middle-age population, a novel finding in the literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Evangelina Dardati & Ramiro de Elejalde & Eugenio Giolito, 2022. "On the Short-term Impact of Pollution: The Effect of PM 2.5 on Emergency Room Visits," CEMA Working Papers: Serie Documentos de Trabajo. 832, Universidad del CEMA.
    • Handle: RePEc:cem:doctra:832
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    Cited by:

    1. Nathaly M Rivera & Cristobal Ruiz Tagle, Elisheba Spiller, 2021. "The Health Benefits of Solar Power Generation: Evidence from Chile," Working Papers, Department of Economics 2021_04, University of São Paulo (FEA-USP).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Air Pollution; PM 2.5; Emergency Room Visits.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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