Quantitative Health Impact Assessment in Yokohama Based on NO2 Concentrations for the Years 2000–2018

• Published in: Journal of Japan Society for Atmospheric Environment / Taiki Kankyo Gakkaishi Vol. 57; no. 4; pp. 101 - 108
• Main Authors: Nakai, Satoshi, Fukusaki, Yukiko, Maruyama, Ryuta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Society for Atmospheric Environment 01.07.2022; 公益社団法人 大気環境学会
• Subjects: AirQ; concentration response function; cut-off value; health impact assessment; health risk assessment; mortality
• ISSN: 1341-4178; 2185-4335
• DOI: 10.11298/taiki.57.101

An air pollution health risk assessment (AP-HRA), which estimates various health benefits if the ambient air pollution concentrations could be reduced to a target reduction value, is being conducted worldwide. In Japan, however, few studies have been conducted within the framework of the AP-HRA. In this study, with the aim of quantitatively evaluating the health effects of the long-term exposure to recent NO2 concentrations and providing information that will contribute to air pollution control measures, the number of annual deaths that could be reduced if the annual mean NO2 concentration of 20 µg/m3 was achieved in Yokohama City and the percentage contribution from NO2 was determined using the estimated values from AirQ+ developed by WHO/Europe. The study of the annual average concentrations in 2018 estimated that it could prevent approximately 1,071 (95% CI: 508–1,638) deaths in the entire city of Yokohama. It corresponds to 3.4% (95%CI: 1.6–5.2%) of the deaths. It will be necessary to examine the size of the area to be studied and organize various parameters, as well as to proceed with the quantitative health impact assessment of other major air pollutants, such as PM2.5 and O3, when their concentrations are reduced by promoting air pollution control measures.