Economic analysis of health effects from forest fires

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have shown that high levels of fine particulate matter (PM) are correlated with adverse human health effects. Approximately one-third of PM emissions in Canada originate from forest fires. However, air quality concerns are not typically included in resource allocation decisions in fire management. In this paper we examine the economic magnitude of these health concerns and compare them to other costs of forest fires using the 2001 fire in Chisholm, Alberta, as a case study. We construct an empirical air dispersion model to estimate the concentration of PM arising from the fire. Benefit transfer methods were used to determine the health impacts associated with elevated PM from the fire and to value these impacts. The economic impacts appear to be substantial, second only to timber losses. The approaches used in this case study can be extended to construct a map that identifies the values at risk from health effects. The use of monetary values of these impacts helps in comparison and aggregation of the values at risk.

Implications of changing climate for global wildland fire

“…Wildland fires release many pollutants into the atmosphere that are significantly related with adverse health effects (Kunii et al 2002;Sastry 2002;Fowler 2003;Rittmaster et al 2006;Schultz et al 2008;Goldammer et al 2009). In particular, epidemiological studies show elevated levels of particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ) are correlated with respiratory problems, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, stroke, and premature mortality (US EPA 2004).…”

The hidden cost of wildfires: Economic valuation of health effects of wildfire smoke exposure in Southern California

“…However, none of these WTP values were estimated for health damages avoided from wildfire smoke specifically. Martin et al (2007) and Rittmaster et al (2006) both used dose-response functions estimated in prior studies and connected estimated health outcomes with a mix of COI and WTP estimates from prior research to calculate the economic cost of health damages from a hypothetical prescribed fire in the Kaibab National Forest and the 2001 Chisholm Fire in Canada, respectively. Cardoso de Mendonç a et al (2004) estimated an original dose-response function and calculated the economic cost of health damages from fire used by farmers in the Amazon, applying WTP values transferred from Seroa da Motta et al (2000a,b).…”

“…They call for more research to achieve consistent estimation of the various resource losses associated with wildfires, including human health impacts. The authors cited two studies which have attempted to quantify the economic cost of the health impacts of wildfire smoke, Butry et al (2001) and Rittmaster et al (2006), and concluded that further research needs to be done to allow estimation of health impacts from wildfire program activities. Kochi et al (2010) conducted an extensive review of the literature on the economic cost of health damages from wildfire smoke exposure and concluded that while this cost should be considered in wildfire management policy, the available research is scarce and incomplete.…”

Quantifying the net economic benefits of mechanical wildfire hazard treatments on timberlands of the western United States

“…The base case WUI value is 5.0 and is only applied to spatial units in the EBR classified as WUI. This WUI value, we contend, should account for the relatively higher rates of structure losses, infrastructure losses, evacuation impacts on the broader economy, and adverse health effects of wildfires occurring closer to where people live and work (e.g., Butry et al, 2001;Rittmaster et al, 2006). In the Monte Carlo simulations, it is allowed to vary from 2.50 to 10 (η 7 ).…”