Extract
from the Executive Summary of a
Report to the Brisbane City Council
An Economic Evaluation of the Health Impacts of
Air Pollution in the BCC Area
Associate Professor Rod Simpson and Dr Jim London
7th February 1995
The economic costs of the current
levels of air pollution in the BCC area are in the range - $254.8 million to
$462.3 million per year (1994 $AUS).
The impact of particulate
pollution on the mortality rate dominates the health costs, accounting for
approximately 90% of the total ($230 million to $415 million per year);
morbidity impacts of particulate pollution make up most of the remainder ($23
million to $45 million per year).
Ozone impacts are considerably
less than the impacts of particulate pollution, with no estimated mortality
impacts and morbidity impacts accounting for no more than $2.5 million per year.
The costs in allowing particulate
pollution levels to rise could be substantial; for example, an increase in annual
average PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter) levels by
5 micrograms per cubic meter could incur costs of approximately $127.6 million
per year, while allowing the levels to rise to just below the USEPA standard
of 50 micrograms per cubic meter could cost approximately $586.6 million per
year.