Analysis of PM_2.5Using the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP)∗

Abstract

As epidemiological work from around the world continues to tie PM2.5 to serious adverse health effects, including premature mortality, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has developed a number of policies to reduce air pollution, including PM2.5. To assist in the benefit-cost analyses of these air pollution control policies, the U.S. EPA has developed the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP). BenMAP is meant to (1) provide a flexible tool for systematically analyzing impacts of changes in environmental quality in a timely fashion, (2) ensure that stakeholders can understand the assumptions underlying the analysis, and (3) adequately address uncertainty and variability. BenMAP uses a "damage-function" approach to estimate the health benefits of a change in air quality. The major components of the damage-function approach are population estimates, population exposure, adverse health effects, and economic costs. To demonstrate BenMAP's ability to analyze PM2.5 pollution control policy scenarios, we assess two sample applications: (1) benefits of a national-level air quality control program, and (2) benefits of attaining two annual PM2.5 standards in California (annual average standards of 15 microg/m3 and 12 microg/m3). In the former, we estimate a scenario where control of PM2.5 emissions results in $100 billion of benefits annually. In the analysis of alternative standards, we estimate that attaining the more stringent standard (12 microg/m3) would result in approximately 2000 fewer premature deaths each year than the 15 microg/m3 achieves. BenMAP has a number of features to help clarify the analysis process. It allows the user to record in a configuration all of the choices made during an analysis. Configurations are especially useful for recreating already existing policy analyses. Also, BenMAP has a number of reporting options, including a set of mapping tools that allows users to visually inspect their inputs and results.

Tree and forest effects on air quality and human health in the United States

“…For example, equations for 0e17, 18e64, and 65e99 age groups were summed to produce an estimate for 0e99 age group. More details on the BenMAP model are found in the literature (Davidson et al, 2007;Abt Associates, 2010;U.S. EPA, 2012a).…”

“…Health incidence effects and monetary value of NO 2 , O 3 , PM 2.5 and SO 2 removal The U.S. EPA's BenMAP program was used to estimate the incidence of adverse health effects (i.e., mortality and morbidity) and associated monetary value that result from changes in NO 2 , O 3 , PM 2.5 and SO 2 concentrations due to pollution removal by trees. BenMAP is a Windows-based computer program that uses Geographic Information System (GIS)-based data to estimate the health impacts and monetary value when populations experience changes in air quality (Davidson et al, 2007;Abt Associates, 2010;US EPA, 2012a). To calculate the health and monetary effects at the county level, the following six steps were conducted.…”

Estimation of future PM2.5- and ozone-related mortality over the continental United States in a changing climate: An application of high-resolution dynamical downscaling technique

“…However, the greenhouse gas emissions of methane show significant increase (about 60%) by the end of the 2050s. More details about emission projections of ozone and PM 2.5 , chemistry downscaling of species mapping, and grid interpolations, together with the evaluation of ozone, have been well documented in Gao et al (2013). Health and environmental assessment modelBenMAP-CE The Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program-Community Edition (BenMAP-CE 1.0.8; Davidson et al, 2007) was utilized in this study to evaluate the PM 2.5 -and ozone-related mortality for the present and future case. It is a powerful health benefit analysis tool that can estimate the health impacts and economic benefits of human population exposure to air quality (i.e., PM 2.5 and ozone concentration) changes.…”

Modeling air pollutant removal, carbon storage, and CO2 sequestration potential of urban forests in Scotlandville, Louisiana, USA

“…The number of adverse health effects and associated economic value was calculated for ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter using the US Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP) model. The model uses a damage-function approach that is based on the local change in pollution concentration and population (Davidson et al 2007). The monetary value of pollution removal by trees was estimated using the median externality values for the United States for each pollutant (Murray et al 1994).…”

“…Air pollution is a persistent environmental problem in most major cities across the world. An important focus of research has been the role of urban vegetation in mitigating air pollutants (Nowak et al 2006, Davidson et al 2007, Paoletti Bardelli et al 2011. Studying the ecological function of urban forests is important because of their geographic extent, their impact on local economies, and their proximity to people (Rowntree & No wak 1991, Nowak & Walton 2005, McPherson 2006, Wolf 2009, Nowak et al 2010a.…”