Health and Economic Benefits of Lowering Particulate Matter (PM) Levels: Scenarios for a Southern Brazilian Metropolis

Abstract

Several studies have reported reductions in atmospheric particulate matter (PM_2.5 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 PM_2.5 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, PM_2.5 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 PM_2.5 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.