Health Impacts Analysis: PM Premature Death Relationship

This page last reviewed January 19, 2012.

Background and Archived Documents:
Actions to Update the Methodology for Estimating
Premature Death Associated with Fine Airborne
Particulate (PM2.5) Exposure.

As part of the Air Resources Board's development of the Emission Reduction Plan for Ports and Goods Movement, ARB staff performed a health impacts analysis for domestic and international goods movement activities. At the April 20, 2006 Board meeting, staff presented the results of this analysis, which can be found in Appendix A of the goods movement report. Following the presentation, staff was directed by the Board to update the health impacts methodology to reflect recent health information on PM2.5 exposures and premature death. On August 21, 2006, a public workshop was held to discuss our approach for revising the methodology and our timeline for completing the work. Staff reviewed all relevant literature and completed a draft report incorporating public comments received at the workshop. A formal review of the updated methodology and analysis was conducted by a peer review committee appointed by the University of California. The committee was composed of experts in the fields of epidemiology, air quality measurement, risk management, health effects of air pollution, and biostatistics. The peer review was completed on January 15, 2008. A draft staff report was presented to the Board at its meeting on May 22, 2008, and it was also discussed at a public workshop on June 25, 2008. Public comments were received through July 11, 2008.

The 2008 staff report includes revisions made in response to public comments on the draft staff report. It also contains a summary of the public comments and ARB staff's responses. Copies of the original written comments have been compiled in a separate supplement to the staff report. Also, references cited in the staff report are available for public inspection.

*Note: The Board on December 9, 2009 directed staff to reassess the PM Mortality Report due to concerns over development of the concentration-response factor. The methodology was reassessed, and an updated report was released in August 2010.

For more information, please contact Dr. Linda Smith at (916) 327-8225.