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The impact of air pollution on petcare utilization

Author

Listed:
  • Stephen Jarvis

    (a Department of Geography and Environment , London School of Economics , London WC2A 2AE , United Kingdom)

  • Olivier Deschenes

    (d National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) , Cambridge , MA 02138)

  • Akshaya Jha

    (e Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy , Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh , PA 15232)

  • Alan D. Radford

    (f Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences , University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston , Wirral , L69 3BX , United Kingdom)

Abstract

Air pollution is one of the leading causes of morbidity and premature mortality globally. A large literature documents the adverse impacts of ambient air pollution on human health. In contrast, there is a lack of comparable research studying the effects of air pollution on animal health. We fill this gap, utilizing 5 y of data on over seven million visits to veterinary practices across the United Kingdom. Leveraging within-city variation in daily monitor-measured air pollution levels, we find that increases in fine particulate matter (i.e., PM 2.5 ) are associated with significant increases in the number of vet visits for both cats and dogs. In aggregate, these estimates suggest that reducing ambient PM 2.5 levels to a maximum of 5 mg per cubic meter as recommended by the World Health Organization would result in a 0.7 to 2.5% reduction in vet visits.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Jarvis & Olivier Deschenes & Akshaya Jha & Alan D. Radford, 2025. "The impact of air pollution on petcare utilization," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 122(40), pages 2504553122-, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nas:journl:v:122:y:2025:p:e2504553122
    DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2504553122
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