Nationwide and Regional PM2.5-Related Air Quality Health Benefits From the Removal of Energy-Related Emissions in the United States

Excerpt: “Clean energy policy can greatly improve human health by reducing sources of harmful air pollution. In this study, we estimate the health benefits that could be realized if emissions of fine particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides from electricity generation, transportation, buildings, and industrial sources were eliminated in the United States. We find that removing emissions from these sources could prevent more than 50,000 premature deaths each year nationwide and provide more than $600 billion in benefits from avoided death and illness. Some portion of the benefits from removing emissions in one region of the country will be felt in other regions. Between 32% and 95% of the health benefits from eliminating emissions in a region will remain in that region. Our results provide an indication of how substantial the benefits of ambitious clean energy and climate policy could be and the regions of the country where those benefits may occur.”

Citation: Mailloux, N. A., Abel, D. W., Holloway, T., & Patz, J. A. (2022). Nationwide and regional PM2.5-related air quality health benefits from the removal of energy-related emissions in the United States. GeoHealth, 6, e2022GH000603. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GH000603

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