| An Evaluation of the Environmental and Health Effects of Vehicle Exhaust Catalysts in the UK Emma J. Hutchinson1 and Peter J. G. Pearson2 1Environmental Epidemiology Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, United Kingdom; 2Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
Abstract
Since 1993, all new gasoline-engine automobiles in the United Kingdom have been supplied with three-way vehicle exhaust catalytic converters (VECs) containing platinum, palladium, and rhodium, to comply with European Commission Stage I limits on emissions of regulated pollutants: carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and oxides of nitrogen. We conducted a physical and economic evaluation of the environmental and health benefits from a reduction in emissions through this mandated environmental technology against the costs, with reference to urban areas in Great Britain. We made both an ex post assessment--based on available data to 1998--and an ex ante assessment--projected to 2005, the year when full penetration of VECs into the fleet is expected. Substantial health benefits in excess of the costs of VECs were indicated: By 1998 the estimated net societal health benefits were approximately £500 million, and by 2005 they were estimated to rise to as much as £2 billion. We also found through environmental surveys that although lead in road dust has fallen by 50% in urban areas, platinum accumulations near roads have risen significantly, up to 90-fold higher than natural background levels. This rapid accumulation of platinum suggests further monitoring is warranted, although as yet there is no evidence of adverse health effects. Key words: air quality, economic evaluation, Great Britain, health risk assessment, pollution, pollution control, platinum, road transport, urban, vehicle exhaust catalysts. Environ Health Perspect 112:132-141 (2004) . doi:10.1289/ehp.6349 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 22 October 2003]
Address correspondence to E.J. Hutchinson, Environmental Epidemiology Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street London, WCE1 7HT UK. Telephone: 44 (0) 20 7927 2007. Fax: 44 (0) 20 7580 4524. E-mail: emma.hutchinson@lshtm.ac.uk We thank M. Farago, I. Thornton, and S. Mourato for helpful advice. E.J.H. acknowledges the award of a Doctoral (CASE) Research Studentship from the U.K. Economic and Social Research Council with the British Geological Survey. The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. Received 20 March 2003 ; accepted 22 October 2003.
The full version of this article is available for free in HTML or PDF formats. |
