Population ageing and deaths attributable to ambient PM2·5 pollution: a global analysis of economic cost

Abstract

Background The health impacts of ambient air pollution impose large costs on society. Although all people are exposed to air pollution, the older population (ie, those aged ≥60 years) tends to be disproportionally affected. As a result, there is growing concern about the health impacts of air pollution as many countries undergo rapid population ageing. We investigated the spatial and temporal variation in the economic cost of deaths attributable to ambient air pollution and its interaction with population ageing from 2000 to 2016 at global and regional levels. MethodsIn this global analysis, we developed an age-adjusted measure of the value of a statistical life-year (VSLY) to estimate the economic cost of deaths attributable to ambient PM 2•5 pollution using Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 data and country-level socioeconomic information. First, we estimated the global age-specific and cause-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) attributable to PM 2•5 pollution using the global exposure mortality model and global estimates of exposure at 0•1° × 0•1° (about 11 km × 11 km at the equator) resolution. Second, for each year between 2000 and 2016, we translated the YLLs within each age group into a healthrelated cost using a country-specific, age-adjusted measure of VSLY. Third, we decomposed the major driving factors that contributed to the temporal change in health costs related to PM 2•5 . Finally, we did a sensitivity test to analyse the variability of the estimated health costs to four alternative valuation measures. We identified the uncertainty intervals (UIs) from 1000 draws of the parameters and concentration-response functions by age, cause, country, and year. All economic values are reported in 2011 purchasing power parity-adjusted US dollars. All simulations were done with R, version 3.6.0. Findings Globally, in 2016, PM 2•5 was estimated to have caused 8•42 million (95% UI 6•50-10•52) attributable deaths, which was associated with 163•68 million (116•03-219•44) YLLs. In 2016, the global economic cost of deaths attributable to ambient PM 2•5 pollution for the older population was US$2•40 trillion (1•89-2•93) accounting for 59% (59-60) of the cost for the total population ($4•09 trillion [3•19-5•05]). The economic cost per capita for the older population was $2739 (2160-3345) in 2016, which was 10 times that of the younger population (ie, those aged <60 years). By assessing the factors that contributed to economic costs, we found that increases in these factors changed the total economic cost by 77% for gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, 21% for population ageing, 16% for population growth, -41% for age-specific mortality, and -0•4% for PM 2•5 exposure.Interpretation The economic cost of ambient PM 2•5 borne by the older population almost doubled between 2000 and 2016, driven primarily by GDP growth, population ageing, and population growth. Compared with younger people, air pollution leads to disproportionately higher health costs among older people, even a...

Evaluating PM2.5‐Related health costs in China—Evidence from 140 Chinese cities

“…On the basis of the estimations of Yin et al. (2021), 43 8.42 million deaths and 163.68 million years of life lost should be attributed to PM 2.5 pollution in the world in 2016. With the rapid population ageing in many countries, the older population's health cost was about 2.1% of global GDP in 2016.…”

“…Even some developed countries, such as South Korea and Australia, may also be beset by haze pollution that significantly raise the number of premature deaths and generate considerable health costs(Han et al, 2021;Johnston et al, 2021) 41,42. On the basis of the estimations of Yin et al (2021),43 8.42 million deaths and 163.68 million years of life lost should be attributed to PM 2.5 pollution in the world in 2016. With the rapid population ageing in many countries, the older population's health cost was about 2.1% of global GDP in 2016.…”

Global and regional projections of the economic burden of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias from 2019 to 2050: A value of statistical life approach

“…We equated each DALY lost with a VSLY lost which is commonly done in heath economic evaluations such as in studies of neonatal sepsis, childhood vaccines, air pollution, and surgery. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 The aggregate economic burden of ADRDs is the sum of all VSLYs lost. The risk of ADRDs includes both mortality (as measured by YLLs) and morbidity (as measured by YLDs).…”

“…16 , 21 , 22 , 23 It is also commonly used to measure the economic burden of diseases or the economic benefits of health interventions but has yet to be applied in the context of ADRDs’ economic burden. 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 To the best of our knowledge, only one study has examined the value of healthy longevity (increase in life expectancy) using the VSL approach in the United States. 33 …”

Corporate Competing Culture and Environmental Investment

“…First, nowadays, global environmental problems are increasingly severe, and firms are the main carbon emitters and energy consumers ( Alam et al, 2019 ). Given that industrial production depends heavily on environmental resources ( Yin et al, 2021 ), governments worldwide have introduced various environmental regulations and policies to regulate industrial production ( Du et al, 2020 ), forcing companies to increase investment in environmental protection. Second, green subsidies can incentivize corporate environmental investment ( Jung and Feng, 2020 ).…”