Valuation of the air quality regulation ecosystem service: impacts from a Brazilian Northeast industrial complex

Avaliação do serviço ecossistêmico de regulação da qualidade do ar: impactos de um complexo industrial do nordeste brasileiro

Valoración del servicio ecosistémico de regulación de la calidad del aire: impactos de un complejo industrial del Nordeste de Brasil

Abstract

This article analyzes the economic impact of industrial complex NO2 and PM10 (particulate matter) emissions on the ecosystem service (ES) of pollutant dilution in the atmosphere. To this end, the Pecém Industrial and Port Complex (CIPP), Brazil, was adopted as a case study. The ES economic valuation is based on increased healthcare costs associated with a higher occurrence of rhinitis and atopic eczema in adolescent children, derived from CIPP activities. The potential symptomatic population was calculated taking advantage of its relationship with the concentration of NO2 and PM10 pollutants. The monetization of the impact is carried out using the replacement cost method, comparing two scenarios: status quo and low emissions. The activities developed at the CIPP are found to result in an increase of US$ 720 thousand per year in health costs for the region. These costs represent a 70% increase in costs related to the diseases under analysis

Keywords:
Environmental economic valuation; air quality; atmospheric pollution; health costs; replacement cost method; industrial complex