• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Bad Air's Cost Put at $3.2b Per Year: Study Estimates Health Problems Related to the Valley's Pollution.

Posted on: Thursday, 30 March 2006, 09:00 CST

By Mark Grossi, The Fresno Bee, Calif.

Mar. 30--Air pollution costs San Joaquin Valley residents $3.2 billion a year in medical bills, lost work time, suffering and early death, a panel of experts announced Wednesday.

The panel wrote a study that puts a price tag on health problems from air pollution in the Valley, which ranks with Los Angeles and Houston as the dirtiest air basins in the country.

"If you snapped your fingers and suddenly had clean air, this is how much money would be saved," said nationally known economist Jane V. Hall. "It's sticker shock, I'm sure. But nobody in the Valley escapes this problem."

Hall is one of two California State University, Fullerton, professors who joined with air expert Frederick W. Lurmann of Sonoma Technology Inc. to write the study. The three have experience in such studies and were aware of the Valley's air problems.

The authors and Valley health advocates said the study is proof that leaders should quicken the pace to clear the air. The head of the local air district agreed the study is important but added that the air cleanup already has made big strides.

"All of our major [pollution] categories have come down dramatically," said Seyed Sadredin, executive director of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. "But the essence of the study is important. There is an economic cost."

The $80,000 study, funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, covers the Valley's eight counties from Stockton to Bakersfield.

The authors said Hispanics and blacks are more affected by poor air quality than other residents. The cost of health-related problems varies from county to county, they concluded, but the average is about $1,000 per person in the Valley.

The price tag includes the cost of early death. The researchers set the price at $6.7 million per death and estimated 460 people ages 30 and older die before their time because of air pollution.

"We have a conservative total," said professor Victor Brajer, the other Cal State Fullerton economist. "Recent research suggests the effects of fine particulate pollution might cause two or three times as many deaths."

Brajer said that the 460 annual deaths occur about 14 years sooner than they should.

The social value of each life was based on mainstream economic research and federal studies, focusing on age, occupational risk, income and other factors. The range was $3.8million to $9 million per person, and the economists settled on the middle ground at $6.7 million.

"Is it worth spending almost $7 million to save your child's life?" Hall asked. "Maybe you can't pay that much, but maybe society can."

The study put a price on other factors, such as lost work, school absence and emergency room visits. There also was a category called "minor restricted activity days" when people are affected by air quality but not enough to call in sick.

Researchers estimated the Valley could avoid 325 new cases of chronic bronchitis each year if microscopic particles, called PM-2.5, are kept within the federal health standard. Each new case of chronic bronchitis costs about $374,000 annually, the study showed.

There should be little argument about the figures, said Kevin Hamilton, an asthma clinical specialist and health advocate. He said the figures are conservative and probably understate many costs.

For instance, the research showed the cost of treating an asthma attack is $50. He sees bills that are much higher.

"Where I work, the bill is $256," he said. "That's a huge difference."

Both Hamilton and air district chief Sadredin said the study would be a tool in advocacy efforts. Sadredin said the Valley needs federal and state help against the biggest source of pollution -- vehicles.

"I plan to use it in our advocacy role with the EPA and the state to get them to do their fair share in controlling mobile sources," he said.

Hamilton said the study provides evidence to argue for stronger air rules from the local air district. He said he believes the district board has been hearing an unbalanced approach that favors the economics of industries.

"Now we really can bring health to the table," he said. "The next board meeting should be pretty interesting."

The reporter can be reached at mgrossi@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6316.

-----

Copyright (c) 2006, The Fresno Bee, Calif.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: The Fresno Bee

More News in this Category