Methodology for the Cost-Benefit analysis for CAFE

Service Contract for carrying out cost-benefit analysis of air quality related issues, in particular in the clean air for Europe (CAFE) programme Confidentiality, copyright and reproduction This document has been prepared by AEA Technology plc in connection with a contract to supply goods and/or services and is submitted only on the basis of strict confidentiality. The contents must not be disclosed to third parties other than in accordance with the terms of the contract. Introduction; relationship to other reports This document defines in detail the methodology used for quantification and valuation of the health impacts of ozone and particulate matter for the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) being undertaken as part of the Clean Air For Europe (CAFE) programme. An earlier version was previously released as an appendix to the draft methodology report issued by the CBA team in July 2004, though it was subsequently felt that the detailed assessment of methods for estimating health effects should be presented as a separate volume. This is partly because of the importance of health effects within the overall CBA. It is also because there is not at present an alternative detailed write-up of health endpoints, and associated concentration-response functions, background rates and health impact assessment (HIA) methodology, for estimating the benefits to health of reducing air pollution in Europe. This is not the case for (e.g.) effects of air pollution on ecosystems and crops, for which ICP/MM (Mapping and Modelling) (2004) has recently produced extensive guidance. Chapter 1 raises a wide range of general issues concerning the process of HIA in general. Chapter 2 onwards describes the substantial and main body of the HIA methodology report. It has been revised following peer review, stakeholder comment, and the opportunity for further investigation and discussion of available data. Efforts have been made to ensure consistency between our methodology and the various evaluations that the World Health Organisation (WHO) provided for CAFE. These included: a. a comprehensive but generally qualitative review of the health effects of particles, nitrogen dioxide and ozone; b. a similarly comprehensive though again generally qualitative set of answers to follow-up questions from the CAFE Steering Group; c. a quantitative meta-analysis of studies in Europe, regarding mortality from time series studies, hospital admissions, and cough among people with chronic respiratory symptoms; and d. specific quantitative guidance on (i) quantifying mortality attributable to PM and to ozone and (ii) extrapolation to low concentrations and the …