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Estimates of health benefits due to reductions in ambient NO2 levels

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Abstract

A method is presented here by which the actual numbers of individuals in the U.S. population who would be expected to suffer respiratory illness as a result of exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in excess of the Federally-designated ambient air quality standard can be estimated. At the same time we have attempted to quantify how these adverse health effects would be alleviated by various degrees of reductions in current ambient concentrations. In addition, the health benefit expected to be derived by various NOx emission control strategies will be examined utilizing the health benefit estimation method presented.

It is estimated that there were approximately 33.2×106 excess cases of respiratory illnesses in the U.S. in 1973 associated with ambient NO2 concentrations in excess of the national ambient standard. A reduction of approximately 50 to 60 percent below 1973 NO2 levels is needed to essentially eliminate excess respiratory illness associated with ambient NO2 concentration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. John B. Pierce Foundation Laboratory, 290 Congress Avenue, 06519, New Haven, Connecticut

    Brian P. Leaderer (Visiting Assistant Fellow, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology) & Jan A. J. Stolwijk (Associate Director and Fellow, Professor of Epidemiology)

  2. Env. Health, Yale University, USA

    Brian P. Leaderer (Visiting Assistant Fellow, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology) & Jan A. J. Stolwijk (Associate Director and Fellow, Professor of Epidemiology)

Authors
  1. Brian P. Leaderer
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  2. Rebecca T. Zagraniski
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  3. Jan A. J. Stolwijk
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Leaderer, B.P., Zagraniski, R.T. & Stolwijk, J.A.J. Estimates of health benefits due to reductions in ambient NO2 levels. Environmental Management 1, 31–37 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867397

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867397

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