In 2008, the United States embassy in Beijing installed an air-quality monitor and started using it to send out notifications. These monitors have popped up in more than 50 embassies around the world.
In each of the cities, something strange happened. Air quality improved in the cities where embassies were posting data. One of the paper's authors said they were surprised.
Almost all of the world's population lived in areas with high levels of air pollution in 2019. In low- and middle-income countries it tends to be worse. Air-quality monitoring in those countries is not very common.
The work on this research started a year ago. Improvements in air pollution had an impact on hazard pay for embassy workers. The team couldn't find good information on reductions in air pollution when they began studying the literature. They began to look into it on their own.
By 2020, 50 cities across 36 countries will have air-quality monitors, thanks to the study that used satellite data. The cities that did not receive monitors as controls were looked at in the years before and after the monitors were installed.
The research shows that the cities that had a US embassy set up one of these monitors saw a decrease in PM 2.5 particulates to the tune of 2 to 4 micrograms per cubic meter, compared to their air quality before getting the monitor and to other similar cities.
AdvertisementNon-fatal heart attacks, decreased lung function, and premature death are some of the health problems that can be caused by PM 2.5. The US has a standard for air quality. The US has a high standard, but there are other countries that have higher standards.
The researchers don't know why the monitors might be linked to a drop in air particulate. There was an increase in searches for air quality information after the monitors were set up. It's possible that the embassy's actions drove the changes rather than the embassy and local authorities responding to the same concerns.
It is possible that the monitors made people aware of the poor air quality. Local regulators could be pressured to take action by this. The data could have been used by the regulators.
The US has no authority in these other countries. The intervention was just an informational one.
The research doesn't look at the reasons why the air pollution decreased. The reductions could be a result of international pressure. Other countries are watching the air quality in Beijing and the Chinese government could have done something about it.
Data surrounding mortality caused by air pollution was used to calculate the monetary benefits of pollution reductions. The team estimated that the decreases in premature deaths would bring in $127 million for the median city. Along with the air pollution, the amount of hazard pay embassy staff received decreased. The US Department of State saved a lot of money in hazard pay.
The monitors cost a lot. They are a low cost way to save the embassies money and improve health care outcomes in the countries. This doesn't mean that the US should install these monitors at all embassies. Providing high quality air information can lead to positive changes.
He said that it spoke to the importance of making that information available. It could lead to more regulation if we made air pollution data more visible.
Pnas in 2022. DIO: 10.1073/pnas.
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