Abstract
Several studies have reported reductions in atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) during the social isolation period of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the monetary and health benefits of PM emission reductions in the short and long term in the city of Florianópolis, Brazil (half a million inhabitants). We collected information on PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations from 2018 to 2020, and population and health-related data (mortality and hospitalizations due to heart and respiratory problems) from 2018 to 2019. The Health Impact Assessment (HIA) tool was applied to the APHEKOM model and two different scenarios were evaluated. In the first scenario, PM levels remained throughout the year at the same average level as the most restrictive period of human mobility to contain Sars-CoV-2 infections. In the second, PM levels remained at WHO recommended levels throughout the year. In the first scenario, PM2.5 reduction would prevent 35 annual deaths from non-external causes and 21 annual deaths from cardiovascular diseases. In addition, PM10 reduction would prevent 28.9 respiratory hospitalizations and 12 cardiovascular hospitalizations, saving the public purse more than US$ 313,000 per year. In the second, based on WHO recommended levels, a reduction in PM2.5 would prevent 47.7 annual deaths from non-external causes and 28.3 annual deaths from cardiovascular disease. Reducing PM10 concentrations would also prevent 53.2 respiratory hospitalizations and 22.1 cardiac hospitalizations, resulting in savings of more than US$ 577,000/year. Therefore, a sustainable PM reduction that does not require the cessation of human activities could improve the quality of population health and reduce hospitalization costs.
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The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author on request.
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The authors are grateful to Espaço da Escrita – Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa – UNICAMP for the language services provided and to CNPq for the scholarship to Marina S. Eicardi. This study was partly funded by CAPES – Finance Code No. 001. We declare that the submission of this article implies that it has not been previously published. This work is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. If accepted, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form without the written consent of the copyright holder. The article may be verified for compliance with these conditions by using plagiarism detection software.
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Martins, E.H., de Souza Eicardi, M., Nogarotto, D.C. et al. Health and Economic Benefits of Lowering Particulate Matter (PM) Levels: Scenarios for a Southern Brazilian Metropolis. Aerosol Sci Eng (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41810-024-00239-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41810-024-00239-3