Estimation of health-related and economic impacts of PM.sub.2.5 in Arak, Iran, using BenMAP-CE

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 18; no. 12; p. e0295676
• Main Authors: Salehi, Maryam, Almasi Hashiani, Amir, Karimi, Behrooz, Mirhoseini, Seyed Hamed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science 21-12-2023
• Subjects: Air pollution; Air quality; Analysis; Consumer groups; Economic aspects; Environmental protection; Evaluation; Health aspects; Heart diseases; Ischemia; Lung cancer; Lung diseases, Obstructive; Public health; Public health administration; Iran; Vietnam
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295676

Ambient air quality is one of the most critical threats to human health. In this study, the health and economic benefits of reducing PM.sub.2.5 were estimated in the city of Arak during the period of 2017-2019. The concentration data were obtained from the Environmental Protection Organization of Central Province, while the demographic data were obtained from the website of the Iran Statistics Center. The number of premature deaths from all causes, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer, attributable to PM.sub.2.5 pollution was estimated using the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program-Comprehensive Version (BenMAP_CE) to limit the guidelines of the World Health Organization. The results showed that improving air quality in 2017, 2018, and 2019 in Arak could prevent the deaths of 729, 654, and 460 people, respectively. The number of years of life lost (YLL) in 2017, 2018, and 2019 was 11383, 10362, and 7260 years, respectively. The total annual economic benefits of reducing the PM2.5 concentration in Arak under the proposed scenarios in 2017, 2018, and 2019 were estimated to be 309,225,507, 262,868,727, and 182,224,053 USD, respectively, using the statistical life method (VSL). Based on the results of this study, there are significant health and economic benefits to reducing PM.sub.2.5 concentrations in Arak City. Therefore, planning and adopting control policies to reduce air pollution in this city are necessary.