Pricing Pollution Studies
Air Pollution & Illness Costs
The Illness Costs of Air Pollution in Ontario by the Ontario Medical Association in 2000 found air pollution costs Ontario’s health-care system and economy more than $1 billion and results in approximately 1,900 deaths. (Report mentions free software to calculate the illness cost of air pollution at OMA website.)
Air Pollution & Disease
Indoor Air Pollution: National Burden of Disease Estimates by the World Health Organization found in 2007 that in 23 countries over 10 percent of deaths can be traced to unsafe drinking water and indoor air pollution from burning wood, cow dung or coal.
Childhood Environmental Illness Nationally
Environmental Pollutants & Disease in American Children by Landrigan et al. in 2002 examined lead poisoning, asthma, cancer and neurobehavioral disorders and found annual costs estimated to range from $48.8 to 64.8 billion: $43.4 billion for lead poisoning; $2.0 billion for asthma; $.3 billion for childhood cancer; and $9.2 billion for neurobehavioral disorders.
Childhood Environmental Illness in MA
Costs of Preventable Childhood Illness: The Price We Pay by Rachel Massey and Frank Ackerman of Tufts University in 2003 found preventable childhood illnesses and disabilities attributable to environmental factors impose staggering costs on Massachusetts society with estimates ranging up to $1.6 billion annually in MA.
Childhood Environmental Illness in ME
An Economic Cost Assessment of Environmentally Related Childhood Diseases in Maine by Mary Davis, University of Maine, in 2009 estimated the cost of preventable, environmentally related childhood illnesses in ME is $380.9 million annually, including lead poisoning, asthma and childhood cancer.
Childhood Environmental Illness in MN
The Price of Pollution: Cost Estimates of Environment-Related Childhood Disease in Minnesota by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and MN Center for Environmental Advocacy in 2006 found pollution costs Minnesota an estimated $1.5 billion each year in costs related to childhood cases of asthma, learning and behavioral disorders, cancer, lead poisoning and birth defects attributable to environmental contaminants.
Coalbed Methane Costs
Easy Money, Hidden Costs: Applying Precautionary Economic Analysis to Coalbed Methane Exploitation in the Powder River Basin by the Science and Environmental Health Network in 2004 found this large-scale project in WY and MT would bring no net economic gain to the public, and would bring huge harms and risks, including threats to water resources, and a permanently scarred landscape.
Environmental Disease Burdens Worldwide
Preventing Disease Through Healthy Environments:Towards an Estimate of the Environmental Burden of Disease by the World Health Organization in 2006 found environmental risk factors play a role in more than 80% of the diseases reported by WHO. Globally, nearly one quarter of all deaths and of the total disease burden can be attributed to the environment. In children, however, environmental risk factors can account for slightly more than one-third of the disease burden.
Environmental Disease Costs in OR
The Price of Pollution: Cost Estimates of Environmentally-Related Disease in Oregon
by Oregon Environmental Council and Collaborative for Health and Environment, OR Chapter, in 2009, estimates the costs of environmentally attributable disease
and disability in OR for adults and children is at least $1.57 billion annually with a range of $1.25 to 2 billion.
Environmental Disease Costs in WA
Economic Costs of Diseases and Disabilities Attributable to Environmental Contaminants in Washington State by Kate Davies, Antioch University Seattle, in 2005 found environmental contaminants cause $1.6 to $2.2 billion in direct and indirect costs in Washington for childhood conditions such as asthma, cancer, lead exposure, birth defects and neurobehavioral disorders. Adult conditions, such as asthma, heart disease and cancer are estimated to cost $2.8 billion to $3.5 billion.
Great Lakes Cleanup Benefits Economy
Healthy Waters, Strong Economy: The Benefits of Restoring the Great Lakes Ecosystem by the Brookings Institution in 2007 summarized the major findings of a more in-depth study on the benefits and costs of cleaning and preserving the Great Lakes ecosystem, and finds the restoration plan is likely to produce economic benefits well in excess of its costs.
Lead Costs in NY
Long-term Costs of Lead Poisoning: How much can New York save by stopping lead? by Katrina Smith Korfmacher, University of Rochester, in 2003 is a useful model of how to present quantifiable data along with uncertainties. The study looked at what costs would the state of New York avoid on an annual basis if lead poisoning due to deteriorated housing were eliminated.
Liability Guide on Chemical Risks
Fiduciary Guide to Toxic Chemical Risk by Investor Environmental Health Network in 2007 is a guide for institutional investors which examines the financial dimensions of toxic chemical risk, including how to quantify such risk, and action steps that can be taken to translate the long-term threats and opportunities associated with chemical issues into prudent portfolio stewardship.
Liability from Chemicals in Products
Cross-Cutting Effects of Chemical Liability from Products by Innovest in 2007 found electronic, cosmetic, and pesticide manufacturers are among the many companies that could face a loss of market share and access to major markets due to "toxic lockouts."
Nuclear Waste True Cleanup Costs
The Real Costs of Cleaning Up Nuclear Waste: A Full Cost Accounting of Cleanup Options for the West Valley Nuclear Waste Site by Synapse, et al in 2008 found leaving buried nuclear waste at a federal site can cost $27 billion or more while endangering public health for thousands of years. The first-ever study looked at the West Valley site in NY, the site of the country's only failed commercial reprocessing facility, and found a waste excavation cleanup costs an estimated $9.9 billion versus $13 to $27 billion if buried waste is left onsite for 1,000 years.
PVC (Vinyl) is Costly
The Economics of Phasing Out Vinyl by Frank Ackerman and Rachel Massey of Tufts University in 2003 found the economic advantages of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) are overstated, and substituting vinyl with safer alternatives is cost-effective and practical.
Toxic Chemicals Cost More Than Safer Alternatives
Five Chemicals Alternatives Assessment Study by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute, University of Massachusetts Lowell, in 2006 found industry could replace five hazardous chemicals with cheaper and safer alternatives.
More Pricing Pollution Studies
You can find more studies at the Science and Environmental Health Network's True Cost Clearinghouse website.
