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DETERMINING THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF IMPROVED HUMAN EXPOSURE DATA
Citation:
Leovic, K W., E. Ruder, T. H. Walker, H. A. Roman, J. E. Neumann, K. D. Walker, L S. Sheldon, AND A. Keeler. DETERMINING THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF IMPROVED HUMAN EXPOSURE DATA. Presented at ISEA 2000 Exposure Analysis in the 21st Century: Integrating Science, Policy and Quality of Life, Monterey Peninsula, CA, October 24-27, 2000.
Impact/Purpose:
Project objectives are to: 1) assess environmental exposures in communities of color and/or economically/educationally disadvantaged communities, 2) develop the research infrastructure of the NCCU Environmental Science Program, and 3) develop improved tools for conducting community-based exposure research in environmental justice communities.
Description:
The U.S. EPA develops and revises environmental regulations and policies to protect the environment and human health. One of the key components of the regulatory process is establishing the proposed action level, which requires high quality exposure data. In many cases, exposure data for environmental contaminants are not available or data are limited in quantity and/or quality. In lieu of exposure data, EPA must make assumptions about human exposure and use models when developing regulations. The purpose of this study is to quantify the economic value of human exposure data towards improving human health protection.
Two primary economic benefits are anticipated: 1) more efficient pollutant regulation, and 2) improved human health protection. First, with both consistent and high quality information, reliance on default assumptions in developing regulations will be reduced, potentially resulting in reduced regulatory costs. More precise exposure information also allows the risk manager to determine if existing regulations have achieved intended goals. Secondly, the additional information provided by probability-based national exposure research programs could identify emerging health risks that may result in new regulations to protect health.
To quantify the value of information (VOI) for improved human exposure data, three case studies of EPA regulatory actions will be evaluated: 1) motor vehicle emissions, 2) childhood lead exposure, and 3) pesticides. Through these case studies, the VOI will be assessed, followed by a broader analysis of Agency-wide benefits. For example, estimated costs (in 1990 $) in 2000 for the Title I-VI air pollution control programs are $20 billion, and estimated benefits are $95 billion. If improved exposure data increased net benefits by only 1%, the VOI would be $750 million per year.
This work has been funded wholly by the U.S. EPA under contract to Industrial Economics, Incorporated. It has been subjected to Agency review and approved for publication.