Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6341445 | Atmospheric Environment | 2013 | 11 Pages |
Abstract
Combustion emissions adversely impact air quality and human health. A multiscale air quality model is applied to assess the health impacts of major emissions sectors in United States. Emissions are classified according to six different sources: electric power generation, industry, commercial and residential sources, road transportation, marine transportation and rail transportation. Epidemiological evidence is used to relate long-term population exposure to sector-induced changes in the concentrations of PM2.5 and ozone to incidences of premature death. Total combustion emissions in the U.S. account for about 200,000 (90% CI: 90,000-362,000) premature deaths per year in the U.S. due to changes in PM2.5 concentrations, and about 10,000 (90% CI: â1000 to 21,000) deaths due to changes in ozone concentrations. The largest contributors for both pollutant-related mortalities are road transportation, causing â¼53,000 (90% CI: 24,000-95,000) PM2.5-related deaths and â¼5000 (90% CI: â900 to 11,000) ozone-related early deaths per year, and power generation, causing â¼52,000 (90% CI: 23,000-94,000) PM2.5-related and â¼2000 (90% CI: â300 to 4000) ozone-related premature mortalities per year. Industrial emissions contribute to â¼41,000 (90% CI: 18,000-74,000) early deaths from PM2.5 and â¼2000 (90% CI: 0-4000) early deaths from ozone. The results are indicative of the extent to which policy measures could be undertaken in order to mitigate the impact of specific emissions from different sectors - in particular black carbon emissions from road transportation and sulfur dioxide emissions from power generation.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Atmospheric Science
Authors
Fabio Caiazzo, Akshay Ashok, Ian A. Waitz, Steve H.L. Yim, Steven R.H. Barrett,