In light of recent evidence on the relationship of ozone to mortality and questions about its implications for benefit analysis, the Environmental Protection Agency asked the National Research Council to establish a committee of experts to evaluate independently the contributions of recent epidemiologic studies to understanding the size of the ozone-mortality effect in the context of benefit analysis. The committee was also asked to assess methods for estimating how much a reduction in short-term exposure to ozone would reduce premature deaths, to assess methods for estimating associated increases in life expectancy, and to assess methods for estimating the monetary value of the reduced risk of premature death and increased life expectancy in the context of health-benefits analysis.

Estimating Mortality Risk Reduction and Economic Benefits from Controlling Ozone Air Pollution details the committee’s findings and posits several recommendations to address these issues.


Table of Contents


Front Matter
Summary
1 Introduction
2 Overview of Ambient-Ozone Standards Development and Benefits Assessment
3 Ambient Ozone and Related Pollutants
4 Contributions of Relevant Health Studies to the Estimation of Reductions in Premature Mortality
5 Economic Valuation of Reduction in Mortality Risk Associated with Ambient Ozone
6 Overall Conclusions and Recommendations
References
Abbreviations
Appendix A: Biographic Information on Committee on Estimating Mortality Risk Reduction Benefits from Decreasing Tropospheric Ozone Exposure
Appendix B: Environmental Protection Agency's Regulatory Impact Analysis for the Final Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard