Study estimates cost of US preterm births attributable to PM2.5 in 2010 at $4.33B
30 March 2016
A study by scientists at NYU Langone Medical Center estimates that 3.32% of pre-term births (PTBs, birth at <37 weeks gestation) in the US (corresponding to 15,808 PTBs out of 475,368 total) in 2010 could be attributed to PM2.5 air pollution. Attributable PTBs cost were estimated at $4.33 billion. The sum includes $760 million spent on prolonged hospital stays and long-term use of medications, as well as $3.57 billion in lost economic productivity due to physical and mental disabilities associated with preterm birth.
Among the report’s other key findings was that the estimated PM2.5-attributable fraction (AF) of PTB was highest in urban counties, primarily in Southern California and the Eastern U.S., with peak numbers in the Ohio River Valley.
The new analysis, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, is the first to estimate the burden of PTB in the US and economic costs attributable to PM2.5, according to the study’s authors.
Researchers say PM2.5 is known to increase toxic chemicals in the blood and cause immune system stress, which can weaken the placenta surrounding the fetus and lead to preterm birth.
For the study, lead investigator Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, a professor at NYU Langone, and his colleagues examined data for 2010 from the Environmental Protection Agency, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Institute of Medicine.
The investigators calculated average PM2.5 exposure and the number of premature births per county. They then tabulated estimates of the long-term health implications of premature birth as detailed in more than six previous investigations and computer models that focused on early death, decreased IQ, work absences due to frequent hospitalizations, and overall poor health.
According to Trasande, the national percentage of PTBs in the US has declined from a peak of 12.8% in 2006 to 11.4% in 2013, but the number remains well above those of other developed countries. Moreover, he says, the decline is insufficient to meet the goal of 8.1% by 2020 set by the March of Dimes, a voluntary health organization dedicated to reducing premature births and infant mortality.
Funding support for the study was provided by the KiDS of NYU Langone Foundation. Besides Trasande, other researchers involved in the study were Patrick Malecha, BS, and Teresa Attina, MD, PhD, MPH, both of NYU Langone Medical Center.
Resources
Trasande L, Malecha P, Attina TM. (2016) “Particulate Matter Exposure and Preterm Birth: Estimates of U.S. Attributable Burden and Economic Costs.” Environ Health Perspect; doi: 10.1289/ehp.1510810
Wonder what is the TOTAL yearly extra direct and indirect health cost associated with pollution from our:
1) ICEVs
2) CPPs and NGPPs.
3) Oil, wood, NG heating furnaces.
4) Cement factories.
5) other industries.
The answer is probably 100X to 500X that amount or enough to pay for a decent quick e-chargers and H2 stations network in about years?
Posted by: HarveyD | 30 March 2016 at 10:05 AM