Near-Source Risk Functions for Particulate Matter Are Critical When Assessing the Health Benefits of Local Abatement Strategies
When mortality or other health outcomes attributable to fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) are estimated, the same exposure–response function (ERF) is usually assumed regardless of the source and composition of the particles, and independently of the spatial resolution applied in...
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doaj-877a875c93bb4a5e84b67b248398a4812021-07-15T15:34:43ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012021-06-01186847684710.3390/ijerph18136847Near-Source Risk Functions for Particulate Matter Are Critical When Assessing the Health Benefits of Local Abatement StrategiesDavid Segersson0Christer Johansson1Bertil Forsberg2Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, 601 76 Norrköping, SwedenDepartment of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, 114 19 Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, Umea University, 901 87 Umeå, SwedenWhen mortality or other health outcomes attributable to fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) are estimated, the same exposure–response function (ERF) is usually assumed regardless of the source and composition of the particles, and independently of the spatial resolution applied in the exposure model. While several recent publications indicate that ERFs based on exposure models resolving within-city gradients are steeper per concentration unit (μgm<sup>−3</sup>), the ERF for PM<sub>2.5</sub> recommended by the World Health Organization does not reflect this observation and is heavily influenced by studies based on between-city exposure estimates. We evaluated the potential health benefits of three air pollution abatement strategies: electrification of light vehicles, reduced use of studded tires, and introduction of congestion charges in Stockholm and Gothenburg, using different ERFs. We demonstrated that using a single ERF for PM<sub>2.5</sub> likely results in an underestimation of the effect of local measures and may be misleading when evaluating abatement strategies. We also suggest applying ERFs that distinguish between near-source and regional contributions of exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub>. If separate ERFs are applied for near-source and regional PM<sub>2.5</sub>, congestion charges as well as a reduction of studded tire use are estimated to be associated with a significant reduction in the mortality burden in both Gothenburg and Stockholm. In some scenarios the number of premature deaths is more than 10 times higher using separate ERFs in comparison to using a single ERF irrespective of sources as recommended by the WHO. For electrification, the net change in attributable deaths is small or within the uncertainty range depending on the choice of ERF.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6847dispersion modelingexposureparticulate matterhealth impact assessmentabatement strategieselectrification |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
David Segersson Christer Johansson Bertil Forsberg |
spellingShingle |
David Segersson Christer Johansson Bertil Forsberg Near-Source Risk Functions for Particulate Matter Are Critical When Assessing the Health Benefits of Local Abatement Strategies International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health dispersion modeling exposure particulate matter health impact assessment abatement strategies electrification |
author_facet |
David Segersson Christer Johansson Bertil Forsberg |
author_sort |
David Segersson |
title |
Near-Source Risk Functions for Particulate Matter Are Critical When Assessing the Health Benefits of Local Abatement Strategies |
title_short |
Near-Source Risk Functions for Particulate Matter Are Critical When Assessing the Health Benefits of Local Abatement Strategies |
title_full |
Near-Source Risk Functions for Particulate Matter Are Critical When Assessing the Health Benefits of Local Abatement Strategies |
title_fullStr |
Near-Source Risk Functions for Particulate Matter Are Critical When Assessing the Health Benefits of Local Abatement Strategies |
title_full_unstemmed |
Near-Source Risk Functions for Particulate Matter Are Critical When Assessing the Health Benefits of Local Abatement Strategies |
title_sort |
near-source risk functions for particulate matter are critical when assessing the health benefits of local abatement strategies |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1661-7827 1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2021-06-01 |
description |
When mortality or other health outcomes attributable to fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) are estimated, the same exposure–response function (ERF) is usually assumed regardless of the source and composition of the particles, and independently of the spatial resolution applied in the exposure model. While several recent publications indicate that ERFs based on exposure models resolving within-city gradients are steeper per concentration unit (μgm<sup>−3</sup>), the ERF for PM<sub>2.5</sub> recommended by the World Health Organization does not reflect this observation and is heavily influenced by studies based on between-city exposure estimates. We evaluated the potential health benefits of three air pollution abatement strategies: electrification of light vehicles, reduced use of studded tires, and introduction of congestion charges in Stockholm and Gothenburg, using different ERFs. We demonstrated that using a single ERF for PM<sub>2.5</sub> likely results in an underestimation of the effect of local measures and may be misleading when evaluating abatement strategies. We also suggest applying ERFs that distinguish between near-source and regional contributions of exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub>. If separate ERFs are applied for near-source and regional PM<sub>2.5</sub>, congestion charges as well as a reduction of studded tire use are estimated to be associated with a significant reduction in the mortality burden in both Gothenburg and Stockholm. In some scenarios the number of premature deaths is more than 10 times higher using separate ERFs in comparison to using a single ERF irrespective of sources as recommended by the WHO. For electrification, the net change in attributable deaths is small or within the uncertainty range depending on the choice of ERF. |
topic |
dispersion modeling exposure particulate matter health impact assessment abatement strategies electrification |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/13/6847 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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