PM_(2.5) and NO_x from traffic: Human health impacts, external cost and policy implications from the Belgian perspective

摘要

This article employs an optimized impact pathway approach to marginal external health costs that relies on high-resolution dispersion models calibrated for Belgium and the surrounding areas. Per tonne, the MEHC_(PM2.5) is found to be many times larger than MEHC_(NOx) which is currently negative. Further, the impact of Belgian PM_(2.5) emissions in the immediate area of generation is significantly larger than the impact on more distant areas; the opposite is true for NO_x. The MEHCs of both pollutants are predicted to increase in the coming years. Further analysis of the impacts of PM_(2.5) and NO_x reveals that, on average, modern gasoline vehicles outperform their diesel counterparts as far as future emissions are concerned. This contrasts with findings for 2007, which suggested that Euro 5 diesels had fewer associated health costs because of the potential for ozone reduction offered by their NO_x emissions.