Sep 5 2014
Researchers from different universities studied the potential health and economic benefits of plans proposed on the control of air pollution in over-polluted regions of China.
According to them, the costs related to the fatality and disability caused by air pollution came down by 50% in Taiyuan, China’s Shanxi Province capital between 2001 and 2010. The result of the study is published online in the Environment International journal.
Deliang Tang, MD, DrPH, Associate Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, is lead author of the study finding environmental regulations in Taiyuan, China, halved health-related costs.
Several new polices and procedures such as fixing standards on emissions, inspecting industries that release toxic and harmful materials and shutdown of other sources that cause pollution, were proposed in Taiyuan to prevent air pollution.
This resulted to a reduction in particulate matter concentration by over 50% - from 196 µg/m3 in 2001 to 89 µg/m3 in 2010, as estimated in eight places in the city. Further, a decline in the cost of premature death by 3.83 billion Yuan was also estimated.
Particulates are small particles released by the combustion of coal and other fuels, which when inhaled causes premature death, lung and heart diseases. Deliang Tang, Columbia University professor and lead investigator of the study stated that the study suggests better air quality in Taiyuan between 2001 and 2010, resulting in significant health benefits.
Similar study on the air quality of CCCEH in China also showed considerable improvements. Frederica Perera, director of the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health explained that results of the research in two cities illustrated better health benefits for adults and children owing to the implementation of strong policies and regulations by the government.