Lauraine G. Chestnut

Analysis of differences in hot-weather-related mortality across 44 U.S. metropolitan areas

Abstract A recent publication extends previous findings on mortality associated with hot-weather episodes and reports estimates of average hot-weather-related mortality in 44 U.S. metropolitan areas. A geographic pattern emerges in the results: the highest hot-weather-related mortality rates are in northern metropolitan areas, even though average Summer temperatures are higher in southern metropolitan areas. This paper reports the results of regression analysis used to identify weather and socioeconomic characteristics of the 44 metropolitan areas that may explain the differences in hot-weather-related mortality. The results show that variability in minimum daily Summer temperatures may be one of the most important factors. This finding suggests that biological or behavioral adaptation occurs in areas that are consistently hot, but not where minimum daily temperature variability is greater. The results also suggest that differences in the availability of air conditioning, standards of living and housing quality contribute to differences in hot-weather-related mortality, but that these factors explain a much smaller share of the variation in hot-weather-related mortality than variability in minimum daily temperatures. The results suggest that whether climate change would result in higher hot-weather-related mortality may depend on the effect on the variability of minimum daily temperatures as well as on the change in absolute temperatures.

Critical factors in computing externalities for electricity resources

Abstract The New York State Environmental Externalities Cost Study and computerized externality model (EXMOD) are used to examine the specification of methods design and application factors in the computation of electricity externalities. We report the sensitivity of externality estimates with alternative specifications for 15 different factors in the analysis, including the selection of facility type, site, and operating characteristics; air emission assumptions and air modeling procedures; dose-response assumptions; economic valuation assumptions; and other modeling procedures and assumptions. Many of the factors that most influence externality computations can be well specified in the analysis, such as the facility type, age, characteristics, emission rates, whether there is SO 2 trading, and the inclusion of long range impacts. Most significant among the factors for which there remains significant scientific uncertainty are the selection and application of air dispersion models, selection of air pollution thresholds for health impacts, reduced life span risks associated with ozone exposure and with long-term exposure to PM 10 , values for CO 2 damages, and the value to be applied to increased risks of reduced life span for individuals age 65 or older.

Economic assessment of the effects of air pollution on agricultural crops in the San Joaquin Valley

The study quantifies the economic value of ozone and sulfur dioxide induced agricultural losses in the San Joaquin Valley of California. In 1978, the economic impact of air pollution on crops in the San Joaquin Valley was estimated to exceed

Economic Valuation of Mortality‐Risk Reduction: Stated Preference Estimates from the United States and Canada

117 million (in 1978 dollars). Over 98 percent of these losses are attributed to ozone. The economic losses from exceeding the California hourly ozone standard of 10 pphm were

Measuring heart patients' willingness to pay for changes in angina symptoms.

106 million. These estimates are thought to be lower bounds on the economic damages from air pollution, because conservative assumptions and methods were used throughout this analysis.

Managing air quality and scenic resources at national parks and wilderness areas

Two internet‐based surveys were conducted with adults aged 35 to 84 - 885 respondents in the United States and 641 respondents in Canada - to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) for reducing mortality risks through out‐of‐pocket costs for health‐care programs. All respondents were asked a series of choice questions followed by a payment‐card question. Causes of death included cancer and heart attack. Levels of annual mortality‐risk reduction were 1, 2, and 5 in 10,000. Converted to values of statistical life, results were in the range of

Analysis of Differences in Hot-Weather-Related Mortality Across 44 U

4–5 million (2002 U.S. dollars) for the choice‐question results for a 2‐in‐10,000 annual risk reduction for illness‐related mortality. U.S. and Canadian results were similar. The payment‐card results were about 50% lower than the choice‐question results. WTP to reduce mortality risk was essentially the same for cancer and heart attack. The results showed WTP weakly increasing with age, and no evidence of lower WTP for older adults versus middle‐aged adults.