New Study: Pollution Costs Children and Economy

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Health impacts on children linked to pollution are estimated to cost billions annually.

One of the hardest-hit state economies in the nation, Michigan could save up to 1.5% of its gross domestic product annually by protecting children from environmental exposures, according to a new report released Monday by the Michigan Network for Children’s Environmental Health. Entitled The Price of Pollution: Cost Estimates of Environment-Related Childhood Disease in Michigan, the report examines direct and indirect costs for four childhood diseases that are linked in part or whole to environmental toxins.

The report estimates that the environmentally attributable costs of lead poisoning, asthma, pediatric cancer, and neuro-developmental disorders in Michigan is $5.85 billion annually with a range of $3.65 to $6.68 billion.

Lead Poisoning Costs Billions Every Year

Lead poisoning exposures were the costliest of the four conditions, estimated at  $4.85 billion annually. In young children, lead exposure is associated with decreased IQ and an array of behavioral problems. In 2007, Michigan ranked 6th worst in the nation for percentage of children with lead poisoning.

Neuro-developmental disorders were the second most expensive environmentally attributable pediatric disease in the state, with an annual cost of $845 million. Three disorders were considered: cognitive impairment, autism, and cerebral palsy. Children are more vulnerable to pollution because of their developing systems, because they eat, drink and breath more in proportion to their body weight than adults, and their natural behavior exposes them to potential threats like lead poisoning.

A 2006 Minnesota study estimated the cost of preventable children’s environmental health problems there at $1.5 billion.

EPA’s Children’s Health Protection initiative includes indicators of trends in children’s environmental health.

Photo:  Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education.