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Short-term impact of PM 2.5 on contemporaneous asthma medication use: Behavior and the value of pollution reductions

Author

Listed:
  • Austin M. Williams

    (Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706)

  • Daniel J. Phaneuf

    (Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706)

  • Meredith A. Barrett

    (Clinical & Population Health Research, Propeller Health, San Francisco, CA 94108)

  • Jason G. Su

    (Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720)

Abstract

Asthma ranks among the most costly of chronic diseases, accounting for over $50 billion annually in direct medical expenditures in the United States. At the same time, evidence has accumulated that fine particulate matter pollution can exacerbate asthma symptoms and generate substantial economic costs. To measure these costs, we use a unique nationwide panel dataset tracking asthmatic individuals’ use of rescue medication and their exposure to PM 2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <2.5 μm) concentration between 2012 and 2017, to estimate the causal relationship between pollution and inhaler use. Our sample consists of individuals using an asthma digital health platform, which relies on a wireless sensor to track the place and time of inhaler use events, as well as regular nonevent location and time indicators. These data provide an accurate measurement of inhaler use and allow spatially and temporally resolute assignment of pollution exposure. Using a high-frequency research design and individual fixed effects, we find that a 1 μg/m 3 (12%) increase in weekly exposure to PM 2.5 increases weekly inhaler use by 0.82%. We also show that there is seasonal, regional, and income-based heterogeneity in this response. Using our response prediction, and an estimate from the literature on the willingness to pay to avoid asthma symptoms, we show that a nationwide 1 μg/m 3 reduction in particulate matter concentration would generate nearly $350 million annually in economic benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Austin M. Williams & Daniel J. Phaneuf & Meredith A. Barrett & Jason G. Su, 2019. "Short-term impact of PM 2.5 on contemporaneous asthma medication use: Behavior and the value of pollution reductions," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 116(12), pages 5246-5253, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:116:y:2019:p:5246-5253
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kuang, Yunming & Tan, Ruipeng & Zhang, Zihan, 2023. "Saving energy by cleaning the air?: Endogenous energy efficiency and energy conservation potential," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    2. Shihe Fu & V. Brian Viard, 2022. "A mayors perspective on tackling air pollution," Chapters, in: Charles K.Y. Leung (ed.), Handbook of Real Estate and Macroeconomics, chapter 16, pages 413-437, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Xia, Fan & Xing, Jianwei & Xu, Jintao & Pan, Xiaochuan, 2022. "The short-term impact of air pollution on medical expenditures: Evidence from Beijing," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    4. McCarron, Amy & Semple, Sean & Braban, Christine F. & Gillespie, Colin & Swanson, Vivien & Price, Heather D., 2023. "Personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and self-reported asthma-related health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
    5. Zhang, Ruohao & Li, Huan & Khanna, Neha, 2021. "Environmental justice and the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from New York State," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).

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