Dataset Information

Estimating the global public health implications of electricity and coal consumption.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The growing health risks associated with greenhouse gas emissions highlight the need for new energy policies that emphasize efficiency and low-carbon energy intensity.

Objectives

We assessed the relationships among electricity use, coal consumption, and health outcomes.

Methods

Using time-series data sets from 41 countries with varying development trajectories between 1965 and 2005, we developed an autoregressive model of life expectancy (LE) and infant mortality (IM) based on electricity consumption, coal consumption, and previous year's LE or IM. Prediction of health impacts from the Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Interactions and Synergies (GAINS) integrated air pollution emissions health impact model for coal-fired power plants was compared with the time-series model results.

Results

The time-series model predicted that increased electricity consumption was associated with reduced IM for countries that started with relatively high IM (> 100/1,000 live births) and low LE (< 57 years) in 1965, whereas LE was not significantly associated with electricity consumption regardless of IM and LE in 1965. Increasing coal consumption was associated with increased IM and reduced LE after accounting for electricity consumption. These results are consistent with results based on the GAINS model and previously published estimates of disease burdens attributable to energy-related environmental factors, including indoor and outdoor air pollution and water and sanitation.

Conclusions

Increased electricity consumption in countries with IM < 100/1,000 live births does not lead to greater health benefits, whereas coal consumption has significant detrimental health impacts.

SUBMITTER: Gohlke JM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3114817 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Estimating the global public health implications of electricity and coal consumption.

Gohlke Julia M JM Thomas Reuben R Woodward Alistair A Campbell-Lendrum Diarmid D Prüss-Üstün Annette A Hales Simon S Portier Christopher J CJ

Environmental health perspectives 20110221 6

<h4>Background</h4>The growing health risks associated with greenhouse gas emissions highlight the need for new energy policies that emphasize efficiency and low-carbon energy intensity.<h4>Objectives</h4>We assessed the relationships among electricity use, coal consumption, and health outcomes.<h4>Methods</h4>Using time-series data sets from 41 countries with varying development trajectories between 1965 and 2005, we developed an autoregressive model of life expectancy (LE) and infant mortality ...[more]

PMID: 21339091

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Project description:The wealth index based on household assets and amenities is been increasingly used to explain economic variations of health outcomes in the developing countries. While the variables used to compute the wealth index are easy to collect and time- and cost-effective, the wealth index tends to have an urban bias, uses arbitrary weighting, does not provide per capita measures and is a poor measure of inequality. We used micro data from two of the large-scale population-based surveys, the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, 2017–18 and the India Human Development Survey, 2011–12 that covered over 42,000 households each and collected data on household consumption, assets and amenities in India. We examined the variations and inequality in health estimates by consumption per capita and asset-based measures in India. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression model, concentration index, and concentration curve were used in the analyses. We found a weak association between monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) and wealth index in both the surveys. Some of the health conditions such as hypertension, cataract, refractive error, and diabetes tended to be underestimated in the bottom 40% of the population when economic well-being was measured using the wealth index compared to consumption. Socio-economic inequality in health outcome, inpatient and outpatient health services were underestimated when measured using the wealth index than when measured using MPCE. We conclude that economic gradients of health by consumption and wealth index are inconsistent and that per capita consumption predicts health estimates better than the wealth index. It is recommended that public health research using population-based surveys that provide data on consumption and wealth index use per capita consumption to explain economic variations in health and health care utilization. We also suggest that the future rounds of the health surveys of National Sample Survey and the National Family and Health Surveys include an abridged version of the consumption schedule to predict better economic variations in health and health care utilization in India. Highlights • Wealth index has been increasingly used to explain economic variations in health outcomes in India.• Association between monthly per capita consumption expenditure and wealth index is weak.• Health estimates by consumption and wealth index are not consistent in India.• Some of the measured health conditions are underestimated for the poor when economic well-being was measured using the wealth index compared to consumption.• Socio-economic inequality in health outcome, inpatient and outpatient health services were underestimated when measured using the wealth index compared to consumption.

Dataset Information

Estimating the global public health implications of electricity and coal consumption.

Background

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Estimating the global public health implications of electricity and coal consumption.

Similar Datasets

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