19 July 2012
Updated estimates about the health impacts and social costs associated with air pollution have recently been presented in reports by a New Zealand research consortium.
Air pollution health effects were first comprehensively assessed in the Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand (HAPINZ) study undertaken in 2002 by Fisher et al. Since the release of the original HAPINZ study, both data availability and understanding of air pollution health effects have improved. The Updated HAPINZ study provides important new knowledge through the use of updated methodology, updated Census data, air quality monitoring data, epidemiological data and updated social cost estimates.
The Updated Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand (Updated HAPINZ) study was commissioned in 2010 by the Health Research Council of New Zealand in partnership with the Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Transport, New Zealand Transport Agency with in-support from the Ministry of Health and the legacy Auckland Regional Council.
This updated study sought to identify the effects of air pollution throughout New Zealand and link these effects to the various levels of air pollution. It also sought to correct a number of errors that had been identified with the 2007 report in a review carried out in 2010. It is anticipated that the results obtained from the updated study will increase understanding of the links between sources of pollution, impacts on human health and the estimated costs of these impacts.
The study team led by Dr Gerda Kuschel of Emission Impossible Ltd, comprised experts in air quality, epidemiology, environmental and health economics. Study investigators were based at four different research organisations including Emission Impossible Ltd, Environet Ltd, the University of Otago Wellington, The University of Auckland and included two independent consultants.
Air pollution in New Zealand is a complex mixture of gases and particles. The assessment by the Updated HAPINZ research team involved particulate matter less than 10 micrometres in size (PM10) as the majority of health effects in New Zealand are associated with this pollutant.
The study results show that the largest health impact is premature mortality in adults caused by long-term PM10 exposure. More than 1,100 New Zealanders die prematurely each year due to exposure to PM10 caused by anthropogenic (human-caused) sources. The largest source of air pollution is domestic fires, followed by motor vehicles, open burning and industry.
Other impacts from air pollution include extra hospital admissions and days when activities are restricted when people cannot do the things they might otherwise have done.
The total social costs of air anthropogenic air pollution in New Zealand are estimated by the research team to be $4.28 billion or $1,061 per person.
Because of the different approaches between the 2012 Updated Report and the earlier 2007 Report it is not possible to compare their findings directly. The authors of the Updated Report have therefore used the model they developed to “back cast” and create figures comparable to those presented in the 2007 Report. They found that all anthropogenic (human) sources except motor vehicles show an increase in health impacts between 2001 and 2006. This increase is largely because of an increase in population exposed to air pollution, combined with minimal, or no, estimated changes in emissions from most sources over that period. More information about the study findings including details of the study methodology and results are outlined in summary and technical reports prepared by the research team.
A Health Effects Model has also been developed that demonstrates how estimates are calculated and allows users to select their own scenarios. This model along with the study reports is likely to be an important source of information for the local government sector by providing results nationally and regionally.
All reports including the Health Effects Model and user guide are available for download from the study website www.hapinz.org.nz.
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For more information about the research project and to get contact details for the research team, please visit the HAPINZ website www.hapinz.org.nz.