Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Economics of Controlling Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution

  • Conference paper
Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Cancer

Part of the book series: Monographs ((ESO MONOGRAPHS))

  • 73 Accesses

Abstract

Economics is concerned with the allocation of scarce resources, both labour and materials, in the pursuit of improving the welfare of citizens. While money is the currency used by economists to express the costs of pollution prevention activities, it is important to recognise money costs as the “opportunity costs” of expending scarce labour and materials on one purpose rather than another. For example, if a factory expends resources to prevent outdoor air pollution, those same resources typically cannot be used to produce products that meet other societal needs. This chapter illustrates how the tools of economics can assist decision makers in their efforts to prevent human cancer by controlling levels of outdoor and indoor air pollution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Pershagen G and Simonato L: Epidemiological evidence on air pollution and cancer. In: Tomatis L (ed) Air Pollution and Human Cancer. European School of Oncology Monograph Series. Springer Verlag, Berlin 1990 pp 63–74

    Google Scholar 

  2. Gough M: Estimating cancer mortality. Environ Sci Technol 1989 (23):925–930

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Anderson EL, and the Carcinogen Assessment Group: Quantitative approaches in use to assess cancer risk. Risk Analysis 1983 (3):277–295

    Google Scholar 

  4. US Environmental Protection Agency: Cancer Risk from Outdoor Exposure to Air Toxics. External Review Draft. Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 1989; updated in 1990

    Google Scholar 

  5. Aksoy M: Benzene Carcinogenicity. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL 1988

    Google Scholar 

  6. Vigliani EC, Saita G: Benzene and leukemia. N Engl J Med 1964 (271):872–876

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ott GM et al: Mortality among individuals occupationally exposed to benzene. Arch Environ Hlth 1978 (33):3–10

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Rinsky RA et al: Benzene and leukemia: An epidemiological risk assessment. N Engl J Med 1978 (23 April):1044–1049

    Google Scholar 

  9. Graham JD, Green LC, Roberts MJ: In Search of Safety: Chemicals and Cancer Risk. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA 1988 p 163

    Google Scholar 

  10. Paustenbach DJ et al: Reevaluation of benzene exposure for the Pliofilm (rubberworker) cohort (1936–1976). J Toxicol Environ Hlth 1992 (36):177–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Cronkite E: Chemical leukogenesis: benzene as a model. Sem Hematol 1987 (24):2–11

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Irons RD (ed) Toxicology of the Blood and Bone Marrow. Raven Press, New York 1985

    Google Scholar 

  13. Thorslund TW et al: Quantitative Re-evaluation of the Human Leukemia Risk Associated with Inhalation Exposure to Benzene. Final Report, Clement Associates, Inc, Fairfax VA, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  14. Goldstein GD: Clinical hematotoxicity of benzene. In: Mehlman MA (ed) Benzene: Occupational and Environmental Hazards — Scientific Update. Princeton Scientific Publishing Co, Princeton NJ 1989

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kerns WD et al: Carcinogenicity of formaldehyde in rats and mice after long-term inhalation exposure. Cancer Res 1983 (43):4382–4392

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Sielken RL: The capabilities, sensitivity, pitfalls, and future of quantitative risk assessment. In: McColl RS (ed) Environmental Health Risks: Assessment and Management. University of Waterloo Press, Ontario, Canada 1987

    Google Scholar 

  17. Crouch E, Wilson R: Interspecies comparison of carcinogenic potency. J Toxicol Environ Hlth 1978 (5):1095–1118

    Google Scholar 

  18. Starr TB, Buck RD: The importance of delivered dose in estimating low-dose cancer risk from inhalation. Fundament Appl Toxicol 1984 (4):740–753

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Hawkins N, Graham JD: Expert scientific judgement and cancer risk assessment: a case study of pharmacokinetic data. Risk Analysis 1988 (8):615–625

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. US Dept of Labor: Occupation Exposure to Formaldehyde. Federal Register 1985 (50):50458+

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wolff SK et al: Choice of experimental data for use in quantitative risk assessment: an expert-judgment approach. J Toxicol Ind Hlth (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Nero AV: Elements of a strategy for control of indoor radon. In: Nazaroff WM and Nero AV (eds) Radon and its Decay Products in Indoor Air. John Wiley and Sons, New York 1988 pp 459–485

    Google Scholar 

  23. Mossman KL, Sollitto MA: Regulatory control of indoor radon. Hlth Physics 1984 (60):169–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Rosenthal A, Gray GM, Graham JD: Legislating acceptable cancer risk from exposure to toxic chemicals. Ecology Law Quarterly 1992 (19):269–362

    Google Scholar 

  25. McCarthy JF, Bearg DW, Springier JD: Assessment of indoor air quality. In: Samet JM and Spengler JD (eds) Indoor Air Pollution: A Health Perspective. The Johns Hopkins University Press, London 1991 p 91

    Google Scholar 

  26. Graham JD, Holtgrave DR: Coke oven emissions: a case study of technology-based regulation. Risk: Issues in Health and Safety 1990 (1):243–272

    Google Scholar 

  27. Rosenthal A, Sawey MJ, Graham JD: Incinerating Municipal Solid Waste: A Health Benefit Analysis of Controlling Emissions. Report to the US Congressional Research Service, Washington, DC, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  28. US Environmental Protection Agency: Report to Congress on Indoor Air Quality, Volume II, Assessment and Control of Indoor Air Pollution. EPA/400/1–89/001C, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  29. Sexton K: Indoor air quality: an overview of policy and regulatory issues. Science, Technology and Human Values 1986 (11):53–67

    Google Scholar 

  30. Samet JM, Nero AV: Indoor radon and lung cancer. New Engl J Med 1989 (320):591–594

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Environmental Investments: The Cost of a Clean Environment. Washington DC 1990 pp 2–3

    Google Scholar 

  32. American Council for Capital Formation: U.S. Environmental Policy and Economic Growth: How Do We Fare? Center for Policy Research, Washington DC 1992

    Google Scholar 

  33. Copeland G, Associate, Temple, Barkin and Sloane, Inc: Letter to John D. Graham, 5 October 1989. See also: OECD: Pollution Control and Abatement Expenditures in OECD Countries: A Statistical Compendium. OECD Environment Monograph No 38, November 1990

    Google Scholar 

  34. White LJ: The Regulation of Air Pollutant Emissions from Motor Vehicles. AEI, Washington DC 1982 p 85

    Google Scholar 

  35. Thompson MS: Benefit-Cost Analysis for Program Evaluation. Sage, New York 1980 pp 221–249

    Google Scholar 

  36. US EPA: Evaluation of Air Pollution Regulatory Strategies for the Gasoline Marketing Industry. Washington DC, July 1984

    Google Scholar 

  37. Health Effects Institute: Gasoline Vapor and Human Cancer. Cambridge, MA 1985; supplement, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  38. Graham JD, Holtgrave D: Coke Oven Emissions: A Case Study of Technology-Forcing Regulation. Report to the US Congressional Research Service, Washington DC, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  39. International Agency for Research on Cancer: Overall Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks, Suppl 7. An Updating of IARC Monographs Vols 1–42. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Lyon, 1987

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Risk Analysis, Harvard School of Public Health, 718 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    John D. Graham

Authors
  1. John D. Graham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150, cours Albert-Thomas, 69372, Lyon Cedex 08, France

    Lorenzo Tomatis

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Graham, J.D. (1993). The Economics of Controlling Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution. In: Tomatis, L. (eds) Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution and Human Cancer. Monographs. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78197-1_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78197-1_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-78199-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-78197-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation