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Prescribed Burns, Smoke Exposure, And Infant Health

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  • Benjamin A. Jones
  • Robert P. Berrens

Abstract

Prescribed burning is used for reducing future wildfire risk; however, it creates smoke, which can affect human health. Using newly available high‐frequency daily data (2015–2017) on PM2.5 specifically attributed to smoke from prescribed burns in Georgia, USA, this analysis investigates infant health externalities connected to these burns. Cumulatively, over an average pregnancy, smoke from prescribed burns is associated with a 1.02 percentage point increase in instances of low birth weight and prematurity, each. For every $1 spent on prescribed burning, $0.43–$2.46 in state‐wide low birth weight and prematurity hospitalization costs are created. Various robustness and specification checks are performed. (JEL Q23, Q53, Q51, I18, J13)

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin A. Jones & Robert P. Berrens, 2021. "Prescribed Burns, Smoke Exposure, And Infant Health," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 39(2), pages 292-309, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:39:y:2021:i:2:p:292-309
    DOI: 10.1111/coep.12509
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ran Du & Qiyun Fang & Ke Liu, 2023. "Landscape Fire and Entrepreneurial Activity: An Empirical Study Based on Satellite Monitoring Data," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-22, July.
    2. Pullabhotla, Hemant K. & Souza, Mateus, 2022. "Air pollution from agricultural fires increases hypertension risk," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    3. Claire L. Schollaert & Jihoon Jung & Joseph Wilkins & Ernesto Alvarado & Jill Baumgartner & Julien Brun & Tania Busch Isaksen & Jamie M. Lydersen & Miriam E. Marlier & Julian D. Marshall & Yuta J. Mas, 2024. "Quantifying the smoke-related public health trade-offs of forest management," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(2), pages 130-139, February.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q23 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Forestry
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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