Abstract
Particulate matter (PM) is implicated in severely negative health effects, and subway-system PM is potentially more genotoxic than several other particle types. However, there are insufficient studies on subway-system PM-pollution reduction and control and the potential economic benefits thereof. Thus, the present study undertakes to assess the potential economic benefits resulting from a 10 μg/m3 reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in a subway system, and to evaluate the importance of prevention and management of PM generally and subway-system PM specifically. Socioeconomic benefits such as medical expense curtailment, the precautionary effect on premature death, and the precautionary effect on productivity loss among subway passengers and workers were estimated by the cost-of-illness (COI) method. The health endpoints included two categories of disease: all lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The results showed that the total annual economic value in cost savings was 328.2 million KRW: 124.2 million KRW in direct costs, 186.4 million KRW in premature mortality costs, and 17.6 million KRW in productivity loss costs, respectively. These findings suggest that the control of PM10 and PM2.5 levels in subway systems should be promoted, as such effort certainly can produce significant economic benefits.
Highlights
In today’s society, the subway, with its high speed, comfort, environmental friendliness, and large transport capacity, is a lifeline of urban development [1]
According to the predicted values of mortality and morbidity effects (Table 4), the economic benefits associated with the reduction of PM10 and PM2.5 levels in subway systems were estimated by the COI method
It was determined that medical cost savings of 124.2 million KRW per year would be obtained for each 10-μg/m3 decrement in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations (Table 5)
Summary
In today’s society, the subway, with its high speed, comfort, environmental friendliness, and large transport capacity, is a lifeline of urban development [1]. It is a highly promoted alternative means of public transportation that relieves traffic congestion in city centers and reduces environmental pollution. The confined and underground spaces of underground subway systems, can accumulate pollutants from various sources. In addition to particles entering from the outside environment, subway aerosol particles are generated by the mechanical abrasion of rail tracks, wheels, catenary chains and brake pads, while passenger movement mixes and suspends them [10]
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