a Pound of Cure?
Health Costs of Pollution: Is an Ounce of Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure?
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Much of the blame for increasing health costs has been placed on rising drug costs or increasing malpractice insurance rates -- but there's another factor that has gotten less attention: pollution. For example, one study estimates that the monetary benefit of avoiding illnesses caused by off-road diesel pollution in Oregon would be over $879 million per year. Add in other pollution-related diseases, such as mercury poisoning, and the benefit could be millions more. Kate Davies, MA, PhD, Professor and Associate Director, Center for Creative Change at Antioch University, who conducted a study of the economic costs of environmental disease in Washington State, will speak of her findings and the implications for Oregon and disease prevention.
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