Economic status, air quality, and child health: Evidence from inversion episodes

Abstract

Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. www.econstor.eu On normal days, the temperature decreases with altitude, allowing air pollutants to rise and disperse. During inversion episodes, a warmer air layer at higher altitude traps pollutants close to the ground. We show how readily available NASA satellite data on vertical temperature profiles can be used to measure inversion episodes on a global scale with high spatial and temporal resolution. Then, we link inversion episode data to ground level pollution monitors and to daily in-and outpatient records for the universe of children in Sweden during a six-year period to provide instrumental variable estimates of the effects of air quality on children's health. The IV estimates show that the respiratory illness health care visit rate increases by 8 percent for each 10 μm/m³ increase in PM10; an estimate four times higher than conventional estimates. Importantly, by linking the health care data to detailed records of parental background characteristics, we show that children from low-income households suffer significantly more from air pollution than children from high income households. Finally, we provide evidence on the importance of several mechanisms that could contribute to the difference in the impact of air pollution across children in rich and poor households. Terms of use: Documents in D I S C U S S I O N P A P E R S E R I E SJEL Classification: Q53, I1, I3, J24

Air Quality and Manufacturing Firm Productivity: Comprehensive Evidence from China

“…A few studies have applied this identification strategy to estimate the effects of air pollution on various outcomes (Arceo et al, 2015;Hicks et al, 2016;Jans et al, 2016;Sager, 2016). 14 With this as our instrument we employ two-stage least squares (2SLS) with the firststage equation:…”

“…If estimated by ordinary least squares (OLS), pollution's effect on labor productivity will be biased upward toward or even above zero because more output per employee in a region leads to both more output and more pollution. To overcome this endogeneity problem while achieving comprehensive estimates we employ as our primary instrument the number of thermal inversions (Arceo et al, 2015;Hicks et al, 2016;Jans et al, 2016;Sager, 2016) in geographic areas corresponding to counties. Thermal inversions form due to exogenous meteorological factors yet trap pollutants such as PM2.5 and SO2 near the ground degrading air quality.…”

Congestion Pricing, Air Pollution and Children’s Health

“…Previous research asking how air pollution affects children's respiratory health has generally focused on the impacts of very short-term variations in air pollution lasting between several hours and a few days (Friedman et al 2001;Neidell, 2004;Neidell and Moretti, 2011;Schlenker and Walker, 2015;Jans et al, 2016). For example, Schlenker and Walker (2012) utilize variation in daily aiport congestion rates as a cause of increased carbon monoxide emissions that are then linked to hospital admissions for respiratory conditions.…”

Congestion Pricing, Air Pollution, and Children’s Health

“…Previous research asking how air pollution affects children's respiratory health has generally focused on the impacts of short-term variations in air pollution that last between 6 Although the county held a referendum on the issues, and the vote was overwhelmingly negative except inside the CPZ, the government decided to proceed nevertheless. 7 The discussion in this section is based on the U.S. National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Third Expert Panel on the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (2007) several hours and a few days (Friedman et al 2001;Neidell, 2004;Neidell and Moretti, 2011;Schlenker and Walker, 2016;Jans et al 2016). For example, Schlenker and Walker (2016) use variation in daily airport congestion rates as a cause of increased carbon monoxide emissions that are then linked to hospital admissions for respiratory conditions.…”

“…Johansson et al (2009) examine the effect of Stockholm's program on PM10 and NO2 and then use estimates from the literature to estimate the likely health effects. One study that looks at health effects directly isGreen et al (2016) who examine the effect of London's congestion pricing policy on accidents.…”