Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
map that represents a particular level of pollution. The result obtained by Airparif
11
shows the number of people who are affected by relatively high levels of pollution.
This method for evaluating the risks associated with pollution levels and their
effects on the population is quite redundant because it cannot be used to identify the
occurrence probability of any disease. Studies that have been carried out have
focused on the risks encountered at a local level, whereas in reality, people move
from one place to another.
Mapping health risks assumes that a standardized method is used, a method that
was developed by the American Academy of Sciences during the 1980s
12
. This
method was altered again by the bill that was introduced on February 25, 2005 in
the health section of the environmental impact assessment that was carried out and
in which an index that measured a population's exposure to pollution was
developed. This index uses data taken from the emission inventories, as well as
information relating to the spatial distribution of the population, by evaluating any
potential exposure to pollution.
This approach calculates the risks of exposure to pollution and to individual
pollutants that are attributed with toxicological reference values. There are
uncertainties that exist as far as this method is concerned. However, this method can
be used to generate useful indications that provide information on exposure levels
and which can be used as a basis for further negotiation. However, the information
produced, through a very technical language, involves identifying excess risks and
identifying probability of diseases occurrence. For example, for a relative risk with a
value of 10
-5
: if an incinerator was located in a nearby area, this would mean that
one person out of every 100,000 could develop cancer due to their exposure to the
emissions produced by the incinerator. These values are only true for a 70 years
exposure long. Although this information is available, the results are only
understood by few people belonging to the limited world of people dealing with this
subject. This approach needs to be accepted for what it is, an imperfect exercise
using data of varying quality to obtain a specific order of magnitude. In terms of
management, being able to quantify the risks dramatically changes the nature of the
problem. Without any quantified risk, it is not possible to make decisions in relation
to rational limit values, and as a result, any decisions that are made will be more
severe than necessary pollution [DAB 04].
It is not only human health that is damaged by atmospheric pollution. The
phenomenon known as acid rain has highlighted how vulnerable forests are to
atmospheric pollution, whilst other studies have shown that agricultural production
efficiency decreases in relation with atmospheric pollution, especially during ozone
11 http://www.airparif.asso.fr/. An organization that monitors air quality in the region of
Paris.
12 National Research Council, Committee on the institutional Means for assessment of Risks
to Public Health. Risk Assessment in the Federal Government, Managing the process, Nat.
Acad. Press Washington D.C., USA, 1983.
