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Michelle L. Bell,¹ Devra Davis,² Luis Cifuentes,³ Aaron Cohen,⁴ Nelson Gouveia,⁵ Lester Grant,⁶ Collin Green,⁷ Todd Johnson,⁸ Jorge Rogat,⁹ Jack Spengler,¹⁰ and George Thurston¹¹

¹Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; ²H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; ³P. Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile; ⁴Health Effects Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; ⁵University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; ⁶U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA; ⁷National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Washington, DC, USA; ⁸World Bank, Washington, DC, USA; ⁹United Nations Environment Program Collaborating Centre on Energy and Environment, Roskilde, Denmark; ¹⁰Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; ¹¹New York University, New York, New York, USA

Abstract

Forty-nine experts from 18 industrial and developing countries met on 6 September 2001 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, to discuss the economic and public health impacts of air pollution, particularly with respect to assessing the public health benefits from technologies and policies that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Such measures would provide immediate public health benefits, such as reduced premature mortality and chronic morbidity, through improved local air quality. These mitigation strategies also allow long-term goals--for example, reducing the buildup of GHG emissions--to be achieved alongside short-term aims, such as immediate improvements in air quality, and therefore benefits to public health. The workshop aimed to foster research partnerships by improving collaboration and communication among various agencies and researchers ; providing a forum for presentations by sponsoring agencies and researchers regarding research efforts and agency activities ; identifying key issues, knowledge gaps, methodological shortcomings, and research needs ; and recommending activities and initiatives for research, collaboration, and communication. This workshop summary briefly describes presentations made by workshop participants and the conclusions of three separate working groups: economics, benefits transfer, and policy ; indoor air quality issues and susceptible populations ; and development and transfer of dose-response relationships and exposure models in developing countries. Several common themes emerged from the working group sessions and subsequent discussion. Key recommendations include the need for improved communication and extended collaboration, guidance and support for researchers, advances in methods, and resource support for data collection, assessment, and research. Key words: air pollution, economic valuation, human health, morbidity, mortality. Environ Health Perspect 110:1163-1168 (2002) . [Online 26 September 2002]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2002/110p1163-1168bell/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to M.L. Bell, Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering, Johns Hopkins Univeristy, 313 Ames Hall, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 USA. Telephone: (410) 516-6173. Fax: (410) 516-8996. E-mail: chelbell@jhu.edu

This workshop was held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 6 September 2001. Contributing authors were M. Ezzati (Resources For the Future) , T. Fletcher (London University School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) , B. Hubbell (U.S. EPA) , P. Saldiva (University of São Paulo) , J. Sung (Kangwon National University School of Medicine, South Korea) , R. Uma (Tata Energy Research Institute, India) , and E. Wong (University of Washington) .

We extend our gratitude to the workshop participants and two anonymous reviewers. We also thank the following for their contributions to the workshop: R. Ostergaard-Klem and C. Lowry of USAID, and C. Allen, D. Evarts, M. Frazier, J. Rogers, P. Schwengels, and K. Sibold of U.S. EPA.

The workshop was sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, The World Bank, U.S. Agency for International Development, World Health Organization, Organization for Environmental Cooperation and Development, United Nations Environmental Program, Health Effects Institute, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Received 15 April 2002 ; accepted 15 July 2002.