Quantification of local and global benefits from air pollution control in Mexico City

Environ Sci Technol. 2005 Apr 1;39(7):1954-61. doi: 10.1021/es035183e.

Abstract

Complex sociopolitical, economic, and geographical realities cause the 20 million residents of Mexico City to suffer from some of the worst air pollution conditions in the world. Greenhouse gas emissions from the city are also substantial, and opportunities for joint local-global air pollution control are being sought. Although a plethora of measures to improve local air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions have been proposed for Mexico City, resources are not available for implementation of all proposed controls and thus prioritization must occur. Yet policy makers often do not conduct comprehensive quantitative analyses to inform these decisions. We reanalyze a subset of currently proposed control measures, and derive cost and health benefit estimates that are directly comparable. This study illustrates that improved quantitative analysis can change implementation prioritization for air pollution and greenhouse gas control measures in Mexico City.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollution / prevention & control*
  • Conservation of Natural Resources / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Conservation of Natural Resources / trends
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Greenhouse Effect*
  • Mexico
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Public Health*
  • Public Policy*
  • Vehicle Emissions / prevention & control

Substances

  • Vehicle Emissions