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Health impact assessment of air pollution in an area of the largest coal mine in Brazil

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Abstract

Coal exploration and burning activities are among the activities with the greatest potential to cause atmospheric pollution due to the combustion process of this mineral and the consequent release of particles that, in significant quantities, can pose a potential health risk, mainly respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The Candiota region, in the extreme south of Brazil, concentrates 40% of the national reserves of mineral coal, and its burning is capable of releasing air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM). Some environmental and epidemiological studies have been carried out in the region, but so far, there is no investigation to estimate the impact of PM on health outcomes. The current study aimed to estimate the mortality attributed to the PM, as well as the benefits in health indicators associated with the reduction of air pollution to the limits set forth in local legislation and the WHO. Daily data on PM levels collected from an air quality monitoring station over a year were used, as well as population data and health indicators from 7 cities influenced by mining activities, such as total mortality and cardiovascular diseases and hospitalizations for cardiac and respiratory problems. In a scenario where PM levels are within legal limits, a percentage greater than 11% of cardiovascular deaths was attributed to pollution by PM2.5, and the reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 levels may be responsible for the increase in the expectation of life in up to 17 months and monetary gains of more than $ 24 million, due to the reduction in hospitalizations and mortality. Studies of this nature should be important tools made available to decision-makers, with a view to improving environmental laws and a consequent improvement in the quality of life and health indicators of the population.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, CAPES, for the Doctoral scholarships (JOP and MS), and Fapergs, for undergraduate scholarships (ASB).

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brazil (CAPES)– Finance Code 001, and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – 310856/2020-5.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande – FURG, CEP, Avenida Itália km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, 96203-900, Brazil

    Laiz Coutelle Honscha, Julia Oliveira Penteado, Valério de Sá Gama, Alícia da Silva Bonifácio, Priscila Aikawa, Marina dos Santos, Paulo Roberto Martins Baisch, Ana Luíza Muccillo-Baisch & Flavio Manoel Rodrigues da Silva Júnior

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  1. Laiz Coutelle Honscha
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  2. Julia Oliveira Penteado
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  3. Valério de Sá Gama
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  4. Alícia da Silva Bonifácio
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  5. Priscila Aikawa
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  6. Marina dos Santos
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  7. Paulo Roberto Martins Baisch
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  8. Ana Luíza Muccillo-Baisch
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  9. Flavio Manoel Rodrigues da Silva Júnior
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Contributions

LCH, JOP, and VSG were responsible for writing the article and analyzing and interpreting the data. ASB and PRRMB were responsible for extracting the data from the databases and preparing the spreadsheets. MS, PA, and ALMB helped to formulate the key research question and to correct the text. FMRSJ was the advisor and responsible for the research.

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Correspondence to Flavio Manoel Rodrigues da Silva Júnior.

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Honscha, L.C., Penteado, J.O., de Sá Gama, V. et al. Health impact assessment of air pollution in an area of the largest coal mine in Brazil. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 14176–14184 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16709-x

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