Welfare Impact of Dust Pollution on Human Health in the District Khyber Ex-FATA, Pakistan

Abstract

Dust pollution is among the major cause of disease and death all around the world. The lungs and respiratory system are the primary targets of ambient dust pollution. This study aims to estimate the health cost due to dust pollution from a stone crushing industry in the Khyber district of ex-fata, Pakistan. To examine the impact of dust pollution on respiratory illness, primary data was collected from 1278 individuals from 200 households living within a 3 km radius of the stone crushing industry. The Household Production Function and Mitigation Cost Function were used to determine the reduced-form equations for assessing the impact of dust pollution on human health and then estimating the monetary cost related to mitigating such diseases. The PM10 level in the crushing region was extremely high, averaging 1247g/m3, while the PM10 level in the control group was relatively low, at 45g/m3. According to our study, the regression analysis estimated that by reducing PM10 to a safe level, every individual could save PKR 4958 per year through mitigation costs. The Total welfare gain for district Khyber will be PKR 2453.306 million or (PKR 2.45 billion). Aside from that, individual productivity loss is estimated to be .37 per day per year. The monetary value of avoiding the restricted working day is PKR 23 for one home, whereas the monetary benefit of lowering the PM10 level is PKR 161000/ for the entire district. The research study suggests implementing the ban on stone crush production and technology adaptation in the residential areas.