UW study finds elimination of air pollution could save more than 53,000 lives each year in the U.S.
MADISON - Eliminating air pollution from energy-related activities in the U.S. could prevent more than 53,000 premature deaths each year, according to a newly published study from University of Wisconsin researchers.
The study, which was published Monday in the journal GeoHealth, also showed that preventing those deaths would also provide $608 million in benefits from the avoided illnesses and deaths.
Researchers used data from the Environmental Protection Agency to model health benefits of eliminating fine particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released into the air by energy generation, transportation, buildings and industry.
The types of pollution looked at in the study have been associated with premature death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections, tracheal bronchus and lung cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
More: 'Polluted' babies, millions dead: Scientists sound alarm on global pollution
Nicholas Mailloux, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and lead author of the study, said the reasoning behind launching the research was to show that actions the U.S. needs to take to decarbonize its energy systems to reduce greenhouse gases could largely benefit public health.
He said that if the U.S. were to start taking action today, the reduction in air pollution would be seen rather quickly, even if the full climate benefits take much longer.
"That's a near-term incentive to take action on climate change," Mailloux said.
While switching over to emission free energy, such as solar and wind power, would make a difference in the amount of pollution in the air, the transportation industry remains one of the largest emitters.
"Nationwide, removing emissions from on-road vehicles would save 11,700 lives each year," he said. "And that's the highest of any other sector.
In addition to nationwide impacts, the study also explored impacts in the different regions of the U.S.
Researchers found that the Midwest would likely see the largest impact after eliminating air pollution, with 11,100 premature deaths avoided each year.
Midwestern states from Minnesota to Ohio are downwind from much of the rest of the country, so air pollution flows into the area from elsewhere, Mailloux said. There is also the large population center of Chicago, where more people are exposed to pollution and could potentially benefit from the reductions in emissions.
More: Climate change issues are motivating young Wisconsinites to get involved in elections
"Another consideration there is the fact that there is still a lot of coal-fired electricity power generation in the Ohio River Valley," he said. "And those benefits (of elimination) would flow over state lines to other places in the Midwest."
Wisconsin in particular would also see significant benefits: more than 400 deaths could be avoided each year.
But those benefits don't come from action by the state alone.
"If Wisconsin were to act alone, they get a certain amount of benefit," Mailloux said. "But, if they act in concert with with partners in the region or as part of a nationwide effort, you get more benefit. So there are incentives to cooperation.
Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on Twitter at @SchulteLaura.
Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.
DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: UW study finds eliminating air pollution could save 53,000 U.S. lives
