The Damages assessed


The following table gives an overview of the health and environmental effects currently included in the analysis (please note, that current research aims at constantly enlarging this list). The main categories are human health (fatal and non-fatal effects), effects on crops and materials. Moreover, damages caused by global warming instigated by greenhouse gases have been assessed on a global level within ExternE; however the range of uncertainty is much higher for global warming impacts than for other damages.

In addition to the damage cost estimates, for impacts on ecosystems and global warming, where damage cost estimates show large uncertainty ranges, marginal and total avoidance costs to reach agreed environmental aims are calculated as an alternative second best approach. The costs for ecosystems are based on the concept of Eco-indicator99 (Potentially Disappeared Fraction (PDF)). The PDF can be interpreted as the fraction of species that has a high probability of no occurrence in a region due to unfavourable conditions caused by acidification and eutrophication.

External costs of energy and transport: Impact pathways of health and environmental effects included in the analysis


Impact Category Pollutant / Burden Effects
Human Health – mortality PM10a), PM2.5b), SO2, O3 Reduction in life expectancy due to short and long time exposure
  Heavy Metal (HM), Benzene, Benzo-[a]-pyrene
1,3-butadiene
Diesel particles, radionuclides		Reduction in life expectancy due to short and long time exposure
  Accident risk Fatality risk from traffic and workplace accidents
  Noise Reduction in life expectancy due to long time exposure
Human Health – morbidity PM10, PM2.5, O3, SO2 Respiratory hospital admissions
  PM10, PM2.5, O3 Restricted activity days
  PM10, PM2.5, CO Congestive heart failure
  Benzene, Benzo-[a]-pyrene
1,3-butadiene, Diesel particles, radionuclides, Heavy Metal (HM)		 Cancer risk (non-fatal)
Osteroporosia, ataxia, renal dysfunction
  PM10, PM2.5 Cerebrovascular hospital admissions, Cases of chronic bronchitis, Cases of chronic cough in children, Cough in asthmatics, Lower respiratory symptoms
  Mercury Loss of IQ of children
  O3 Asthma attacks
Symptom days
  Noise Myocardial infarction, Angina pectoris, Hypertension, Sleep disturbance
  Accident risk Risk of injuries from traffic and workplace accidents
Building Material SO2, Acid deposition Ageing of galvanised steel, limestone, mortar, sand-stone, paint, rendering, and zinc for utilitarian buildings
  Combustion particles Soiling of buildings
Crops NOx, SO2 Yield change for wheat, barley, rye, oats, potato, sugar beet
  O3 Yield change for wheat, barley, rye, oats, potato, rice, tobacco, sunflower seed
  Acid deposition Increased need for liming
  N, S deposition Fertilising effects
Global Warming CO2, CH4, N2O World-wide effects on mortality, morbidity, coastal impacts, agriculture, energy demand, and economic impacts due to temperature change and sea level rise
Amenity losses Noise Amenity losses due to noise exposure
Ecosystems Acid deposition, nitrogen deposition, SO2, NOx, NH3 Acidity and eutrophication, 'PDF' of species
Land use Change   'PDF' of species
a)
  		Particles with an aerodynamic diameter < 10 µm, including secondary particles (sulphate and nitrate aerosols)
b)
  		Particles with an aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 µm, including secondary particles (sulphate and nitrate aerosols)