Environmental Impact Guidance
Air Quality
The impacts of poor air quality are substantial with the impact of man made particles alone estimated to reduce average UK life expectancy by about eight months in 2005, creating an annual cost of up to £9.1- £21.4 billion.
This site helps you identify whether your policy may impact on air quality. If an air quality impact is identified it then provides advice on quantifying and monetising any impacts so that they can be included in project appraisals and Regulatory Impact Assessments.
Appraising Impacts on Air Quality
The impacts of policies on air quality are relatively easy to estimate and quantitative values for harm or benefit can be obtained. Excellent data exists on emissions, air quality and its harmful impacts on human health. Relationships have been established between changes in concentrations for the key pollutants and their eventual health effects. Economic valuations of harmful effects can then be applied to calculate a monetary valuation of changes in air quality. Ecosystem impacts are more difficult to quantify but qualitative assessments are available.
This site examines the key questions:
Contacts
To get assistance estimating or valuing air quality impacts, see our contacts page
Page last modified: 17 May 2007
Page Published: 16 November 2004