Exploring the economy-wide effects of agriculture on air quality and health: Evidence from Europe

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2019-05, Vol.663, p.889-900
• Main Authors: Giannakis, Elias, Kushta, Jonilda, Giannadaki, Despina, Georgiou, George K., Bruggeman, Adriana, Lelieveld, Jos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural emissions; Environmentally-extended input-output models; Outdoor pollution; PM2.5 in Europe; Premature mortality; WRF-Chem
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.410

Agricultural emissions strongly contribute to fine particulate matter pollution (PM2.5) and associated effects on human health. Environmentally-extended input-output models and a regional atmospheric chemistry model (WRF-Chem) were combined to conduct an economy-wide assessment of air pollution and pre-mature mortality in the European Union (EU), associated with a 20% increase in the final demand for the output of the agricultural sector. Model results revealed significant differences in air pollution originating from agricultural growth across the 28 EU countries (EU-28). The highest impact of agricultural growth on PM2.5 concentrations occur over the Northern Balkan countries (Bulgaria and Romania) and northern Italy. However, the highest excess mortality rates in the EU-28 due to changes in emissions and enhanced PM2.5 concentrations are observed in Malta, Greece, Spain and Cyprus. The least affected countries are mostly located in the northern part of Europe, with the exception of the Scandinavian Countries, which have relatively good air quality under current conditions. Our integrated modelling framework results highlight the importance of capturing both the direct and indirect air pollution emissions of economic sectors via upstream supply chains and underscore the non-linear response of surface PM2.5 levels and their health impacts to emission fluxes. [Display omitted] •Economic models and WRF-Chem can model agricultural growth effect on air quality.•Agriculture has highest NH3 and NMVOC emissions per change in economic output in EU.•Shipping has highest SOx, NOx and PM emissions per change in economic output in EU.•Increase in agricultural emissions affects southeastern EU countries most strongly.•20% agricultural output increase results in 24% increase in excess mortality in EU.