Title: The impact of air pollution on health problems in Britain

Authors: Eleftherios Giovanis; Oznur Ozdamar

Addresses: Department of Economics, University of Verona, Vicolo Campofiore, 2, 37129, Italy ' Department of Econometrics, Aydın Faculty of Economics, Adnan Menderes University, Merkez Kampüsü, Aytepe Mevkii, 09010 Aydın, Turkey; Department of Economics, Bologna University, Strada Maggiore 45, 40125, Bologna, Italy

Abstract: This study explores the effects of air pollution on specific diseases and specifically skin conditions and allergy, chest and breathing and heart problems. The analysis is based on data derived by the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS), which is a panel dataset in the UK during the period 1991 to 2009. Moreover, this study explores the willingness to pay for improving the air quality in the UK using data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS). In particular, two air pollutants are examined; ground-level ozone (O₃) and carbon monoxide (CO). Regarding the skin conditions and allergy health problems the annual monetary values for O₃ range between £45-£65 per year for a drop of one unit, while the respective values for the CO range between £70-£87. The respective values for O₃ and CO range between £173-£218 for chest and breathing health problems and £178-£216 and £189-£222 for heart problems.

Keywords: air pollution; British Household Panel Survey; BHPS; environmental valuation; health diseases; hospitalisation costs; UK; United Kingdom; air quality; skin conditions; allergies; chest pains; breathing problems; heart problems; ground-level ozone; carbon monoxide.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSE.2016.075904

International Journal of Sustainable Economy, 2016 Vol.8 No.2, pp.163 - 186

Received: 12 Mar 2015
Accepted: 12 Oct 2015
Published online: 12 Apr 2016 *

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