Summary: Since the Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, the United States has seen substantial health benefits related to decreasing pollution. This accomplishment should be a model for other industrializing nations, such as China and India, to better the health of their citizens.
Michael Greenstone runs the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. He has done research on climate change, air pollution and life expectancy, indoor air pollution, environmental regulation in India, and energy economics.
The main findings of the article are that the Clean Air Act had extended life expectancy and reduced the number of premature deaths in many cities in the United States and that it can serve as a model example for other nations struggling with pollution.
These findings are supported by a new estimate of life expectancy increases, calculated by the author, since 1970. In the graphic below (full graphic available in the cited article), the cities with the largest gains in life expectancies are shown.
Also, the article cited a study (Pope 2009) that showed that thousands of premature deaths were prevented by pollution regulation.
The author also cited his own study on pollution in Northern and Southern China and related mortality rates. A comparison was drawn between Los Angeles, in 1970 the smog capital of the world, and China, the current smog capital of the world, to show that change is possible.
“In Los Angeles, particulate pollution has declined by more than half since 1970. The average Angeleno lives about a year and eight months longer.” This quote supports the authors claim that the Clean Air Act has had a significant positive effect on health in the United States.
“In 1970, the Weirton, W.VA.-Steubenville, Ohio, metropolitan area had particulate concentrations similar to current-day Beijing. A child born there today can expect to live about five years longer than one born in 1970.” This quote alludes to the impact that a Chinese movement similar to the Clean Air Act could improve the life expectancy of its citizens. Also, it shows how the United States’ actions can be a model for other environmental action.
“In India, pollution is abridging the average person’s life by about three years. but the growing outrage has not yet coalesced into forceful action, although it’s possible that pressure to take steps against climate change will also have an effect on improving air quality.” In other words, there is still significant advocacy and legislative work that needs to be done on air pollution worldwide.
The findings of this report were based on the author’s recalculation of life expectancies in major metropolitan and micropolitan areas from 1970-2014. To do so, the total suspended particulates (TSPs) and particulate matter (PM) are measured. The decrease in both are converted into life expectancy by utilizing “an estimate of life expectancy to particulate air pollution from Chen et al. (2013). (Greenstone 2015).” The data from the estimates led to the authors conclusion on the positive effects of the Clean Air Act.
Health disparities between areas of different pollution levels were addressed. For example, life expectancies in China and India were found to be less than in the United States, likely due to air pollution and other factors. Also, health disparities between large cities and small manufacturing towns were compared. Small manufacturing towns often had less regulation on pollutants than larger cities, and therefore felt a more acute response to industries in the area.
The author cited his own work several times in this article. Also, the international data cited was often from an American based journal or report. The author focused on bringing together different aspects of his own work to produce this article.
Clarification on how the author produced the new life expectancy calculations was needed. An accompanying article (Greenstone 2015) explained the methodology and assumptions behind his predictions.
Also, following up on the author’s work in India and China was necessary to understand the statements presented in the article. China’s Huai River Policy is an action being taken by the Chinese government to limit pollution. India’s policy needs to be revised to address the overabundance of pollution in highly populated areas.
Pope, C. Arden III, et. al., “Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Life Expectancy in the United States”, The New England Journal of Medicine 360 (2009):376-386, Accessed 26 September 2015. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa0805646
Greenstone, Michael, “The Connection Between Cleaner Air and Longer Lives”, The New York Times, September 24, 2015, Accessed September 26, 2015. __http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/25/upshot/the-connection-between-cleaner-air-and-longer-lives.html?ref=topics__
Summary: Since the Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, the United States has seen substantial health benefits related to decreasing pollution. This accomplishment should be a model for other industrializing nations, such as China and India, to better the health of their citizens.
Michael Greenstone runs the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. He has done research on climate change, air pollution and life expectancy, indoor air pollution, environmental regulation in India, and energy economics.
CHINA (Beijing) Research team: EVIDENCE ON THE IMPACT OF SUSTAINED EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION ON LIFE EXPECTANCY FROM CHINA’S HUAI RIVER POLICY __http://www.michaelgreenstone.com/linking-air-pollution-mortality/__
INDIA Research team: TRUTH-TELLING BY THIRD-PARTY AUDITORS AND THE RESPONSE OF POLLUTING FIRMS: EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FROM INDIA
__http://www.michaelgreenstone.com/reforming-environmental-audits/__
HEALTH Research team: UP IN SMOKE (indoor air pollution) __http://www.michaelgreenstone.com/up-in-smoke/__
The main findings of the article are that the Clean Air Act had extended life expectancy and reduced the number of premature deaths in many cities in the United States and that it can serve as a model example for other nations struggling with pollution.
These findings are supported by a new estimate of life expectancy increases, calculated by the author, since 1970. In the graphic below (full graphic available in the cited article), the cities with the largest gains in life expectancies are shown.
Also, the article cited a study (Pope 2009) that showed that thousands of premature deaths were prevented by pollution regulation.
The author also cited his own study on pollution in Northern and Southern China and related mortality rates. A comparison was drawn between Los Angeles, in 1970 the smog capital of the world, and China, the current smog capital of the world, to show that change is possible.
“In Los Angeles, particulate pollution has declined by more than half since 1970. The average Angeleno lives about a year and eight months longer.” This quote supports the authors claim that the Clean Air Act has had a significant positive effect on health in the United States.
“In 1970, the Weirton, W.VA.-Steubenville, Ohio, metropolitan area had particulate concentrations similar to current-day Beijing. A child born there today can expect to live about five years longer than one born in 1970.” This quote alludes to the impact that a Chinese movement similar to the Clean Air Act could improve the life expectancy of its citizens. Also, it shows how the United States’ actions can be a model for other environmental action.
“In India, pollution is abridging the average person’s life by about three years. but the growing outrage has not yet coalesced into forceful action, although it’s possible that pressure to take steps against climate change will also have an effect on improving air quality.” In other words, there is still significant advocacy and legislative work that needs to be done on air pollution worldwide.
The findings of this report were based on the author’s recalculation of life expectancies in major metropolitan and micropolitan areas from 1970-2014. To do so, the total suspended particulates (TSPs) and particulate matter (PM) are measured. The decrease in both are converted into life expectancy by utilizing “an estimate of life expectancy to particulate air pollution from Chen et al. (2013). (Greenstone 2015).” The data from the estimates led to the authors conclusion on the positive effects of the Clean Air Act.
Health disparities between areas of different pollution levels were addressed. For example, life expectancies in China and India were found to be less than in the United States, likely due to air pollution and other factors. Also, health disparities between large cities and small manufacturing towns were compared. Small manufacturing towns often had less regulation on pollutants than larger cities, and therefore felt a more acute response to industries in the area.
The author cited his own work several times in this article. Also, the international data cited was often from an American based journal or report. The author focused on bringing together different aspects of his own work to produce this article.
Clarification on how the author produced the new life expectancy calculations was needed. An accompanying article (Greenstone 2015) explained the methodology and assumptions behind his predictions.
Also, following up on the author’s work in India and China was necessary to understand the statements presented in the article. China’s Huai River Policy is an action being taken by the Chinese government to limit pollution. India’s policy needs to be revised to address the overabundance of pollution in highly populated areas.
Pope, C. Arden III, et. al., “Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Life Expectancy in the United States”, The New England Journal of Medicine 360 (2009):376-386, Accessed 26 September 2015. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa0805646
Greenstone, Michael, “Overview on Methodology for Clean Air Study”, The New York Times, September 23, 2015, Accessed September 26, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/25/upshot/notes-on-methodology.html