DEPARTMENT: Office of Sustainability and Metro Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Douglas R. Melnick, ISSP-SA, CNU-A; Dr. Colleen Bridger
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
SUBJECT:
Air Quality Public Health Analysis
SUMMARY:
The Office of Sustainability and the Metro Health retained a consultant to complete an air quality health analysis to estimate the health and cost impacts of ambient ozone pollution to Bexar County residents.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On March 2, 2017, the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) released the “Potential Cost of Nonattainment in the San Antonio Metropolitan Area” outlining the direct and indirect economic costs for non-attainment. Funding to develop the Air Quality Public Health Analysis was allocated by City Council within the FY 2017 Annual Budget to complement the AACOG “Economic Cost of Non-Attainment Study”, the SA Tomorrow Sustainability Plan and the Metro Health Strategic Plan. Ordinance 2017-03-09-0165 authorized City staff to award a contract to Ramboll Environ US Corporation to develop the air quality public health analysis.
The goal of the analysis was to estimate the health and cost impacts of changes in outdoor ozone levels on Bexar County residents using the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP) model. BenMAP is used by the Environmental Protection Agency for regulatory assessments and is the standard tool for performing this type of analysis. BenMAP uses epidemiological data, ozone monitoring and modeling data, and health and population data to calculate health impacts and the resulting costs. Ramboll Environ estimated the health impacts and associated costs of changes in ozone levels using 2010-2014 ozone monitoring data.
Ozone formed through natural processes in the upper atmosphere is beneficial to life by shielding the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ozone, at ground-level is harmful to public health, especially on hot sunny days when ozone can reach unhealthy levels. Ozone at this level is the main component of smog.
ISSUE:
The report’s analysis completed by Ramboll Environ estimated a total of 19 deaths per year due to long-term respiratory conditions from ozone monitor levels in the range of 77 to 80 parts per billion. This represents about 2% of all annual respiratory deaths in Bexar County. The cost associated with these additional deaths is estimated to be $170,000,000.00 in 2014 dollars (based on BenMAP’s default EPA estimate of a mortality cost of $9.2 million per statistical life). Similarly, BenMAP estimates 24 avoided deaths would result from improved ozone monitor levels that attain the 70 parts per billion federal air quality standard. The avoided cost of these deaths is estimated to be $220,000,000.00 in 2014 dollars.
Ramboll Environ also assessed the impacts to air quality and air quality-related public health indicators as a result of projected climate change trends and its impact on ozone pollution within the Bexar County area. The climate of Texas is changing and is expected to continue to change throughout the 21st century in ways that may influence the formation of ozone pollution in San Antonio. Because ozone formation is favored on hot days, higher temperatures that speed the chemical reactions will produce more ozone and also enhance the rate of emissions from human sources such as evaporation of fuels. The effects of a changing climate will also affect the City of San Antonio’s efforts to achieve the goal of compliance with the new ozone standard.
The report was reviewed by a Project Oversight Committee consisting of internal City staff and subject matter experts representing the UT Health Science Center, SA Chamber of Commerce, Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee and Bexar County. In addition, City staff completed a third party peer review process that included subject matter experts from Texas A&M University’s Texas Transportation Institute and Texas A&M’s School of Public Health.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Community Health and Equity City Council Committee can accept the Air Quality Public Health Analysis, or postpone, or deny acceptance of the analysis. Postponement or disallowed approval to accept the analysis will not directly impact City operations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This briefing covers the findings of the Air Quality Public Health Analysis and does not have a direct fiscal impact to operations.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Committee accept the Air Quality Public Health Analysis and present the results to full Council at B Session on October 4, 2017.