1School of Business, Lebanese American University, P.O. Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon. E-mail: sdjndran@lau.edu.lb
2Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon E-mail: nuwayhid@aub.edu.lb
3Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon E-mail: fbchaaban@aub.edu.lb
In spite of the recognition of air pollution as a priority environmental problem in developing countries, policy actions are blocked on the basis of limited financial resources. This study represents a rare multidisciplinary attempt to quantify the impact of air pollution on health in Lebanon, a country at a crossroad between less developed and the developing world. The work presented here is part of a regional study on 13 Mediterranean countries, sponsored by the MedPolicies Initiative of the Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP III). The objective of the METAP III Initiative is the promotion of sustainable economic growth through the integration of environmental concerns in economic decision making. The multidisciplinary study proceeded along several parallel lines. First, the magnitude of air pollution in Beirut was estimated using actual measurements and modeling. Second, the scientific literature pertaining to the relationship between air pollutants and health was reviewed to identify dose-response relationships. Third, using a combination of primary and secondary data, mortality and morbidity were estimated. The findings indicate that for every 10 μg/m3 increase in the concentration of particulates in Beirut, there is an excess of 80 premature deaths, 3000 hospital admissions, and 2800 emergency room visits. This translates into more than US $ 10 million spent annually for statistical lives lost, cost of medical care, and days of restricted activity. With an estimated average concentration of 200 μg/m3 of particulates in Beirut, the social and economic impacts become truly significant. Since automobiles represent the major source of urban air pollution in Lebanon, the policy recommendations include modernizing the car fleet which is predominantly old, imposing strict technical check-ups on vehicles, and adopting an aggressive transport management program as measures that will help reduce air pollution and consequently help reduce its adverse health effects.
mortality, morbidity, social cost, health effects, particulates, Lebanon
