Evolution of Romania's Economic Structure and Environment Degradation - An Assessment Through LMDI Decomposition Approach

Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2021 Aug 24:14:3505-3521. doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S299617. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Purpose: This paper studies the relationships between air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, N2O) and different diseases (tumors, skin and respiratory) and the factors influencing air pollutant emissions in Romania.

Methods: The methods are Toda-Yamamoto procedure of non-causality Granger test, grey relational analysis and logarithmic mean Divisia index method (LMDI).

Results: Air pollutants intensities dropped significantly over 2008-2017 period due to structural changes. The only economic activity that showed an increase both in volume and intensity of air pollutants, despite a downward trend of farming activities output is agriculture. Technology improvements play a significant role in mitigation of PM2.5 emissions and a moderate role in mitigation of PM10 emissions. For N2O emissions technology used contributed to an increase of N2O intensities.

Conclusion: Health policy makers should address the issue of technology improvements and mitigation of agriculture emissions to improve health of individuals and air quality.

Keywords: habitat depreciation; pollution; respiratory diseases; technology improvement.