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Air-quality-related health damages of maize

Author

Listed:
  • Jason Hill

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Andrew Goodkind

    (University of New Mexico)

  • Christopher Tessum

    (University of Washington)

  • Sumil Thakrar

    (University of Minnesota)

  • David Tilman

    (University of Minnesota
    University of California)

  • Stephen Polasky

    (University of Minnesota
    University of Minnesota)

  • Timothy Smith

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Natalie Hunt

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Kimberley Mullins

    (University of Minnesota)

  • Michael Clark

    (University of Minnesota
    University of Minnesota
    University of Oxford
    University of Oxford)

  • Julian Marshall

    (University of Washington)

Abstract

Agriculture is essential for feeding the large and growing world population, but it can also generate pollution that harms ecosystems and human health. Here, we explore the human health effects of air pollution caused by the production of maize—a key agricultural crop that is used for animal feed, ethanol biofuel and human consumption. We use county-level data on agricultural practices and productivity to develop a spatially explicit life-cycle-emissions inventory for maize. From this inventory, we estimate health damages, accounting for atmospheric pollution transport and chemistry, and human exposure to pollution at high spatial resolution. We show that reduced air quality resulting from maize production is associated with 4,300 premature deaths annually in the United States, with estimated damages in monetary terms of US$39 billion (range: US$14–64 billion). Increased concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are driven by emissions of ammonia—a PM2.5 precursor—that result from nitrogen fertilizer use. Average health damages from reduced air quality are equivalent to US$121 t−1 of harvested maize grain, which is 62% of the US$195 t−1 decadal average maize grain market price. We also estimate life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of maize production, finding total climate change damages of US$4.9 billion (range: US$1.5–7.5 billion), or US$15 t−1 of maize. Our results suggest potential benefits from strategic interventions in maize production, including changing the fertilizer type and application method, improving nitrogen use efficiency, switching to crops requiring less fertilizer, and geographically reallocating production.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason Hill & Andrew Goodkind & Christopher Tessum & Sumil Thakrar & David Tilman & Stephen Polasky & Timothy Smith & Natalie Hunt & Kimberley Mullins & Michael Clark & Julian Marshall, 2019. "Air-quality-related health damages of maize," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(5), pages 397-403, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:2:y:2019:i:5:d:10.1038_s41893-019-0261-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0261-y
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Luke Bergmann & Luis Fernando Chaves & Carolyn R. Betz & Serena Stein & Brian Wiedenfeld & Ann Wolf & Robert G. Wallace, 2022. "Mapping Agricultural Lands: From Conventional to Regenerative," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-41, March.
    2. Huanbi Yue & Chunyang He & Qingxu Huang & Da Zhang & Peijun Shi & Enayat A. Moallemi & Fangjin Xu & Yang Yang & Xin Qi & Qun Ma & Brett A. Bryan, 2024. "Substantially reducing global PM2.5-related deaths under SDG3.9 requires better air pollution control and healthcare," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Adnan Shakeel & Abrar Ahmad Khan & Hesham F. Alharby & Atif A. Bamagoos & Nadiyah M. Alabdallah & Khalid Rehman Hakeem, 2021. "Optimizing Nitrogen Application in Root Vegetables from Their Growth, Biochemical and Antioxidant Response to Urea Fertilizer," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Ma, Xiaotian & Zhang, Tianzuo & Ji, Changxing & Zhai, Yijie & Shen, Xiaoxu & Hong, Jinglan, 2021. "Threats to human health and ecosystem: Looking for air-pollution related damage since 1990," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    5. Himics, Mihaly & Giannakis, Elias & Kushta, Jonilda & Hristov, Jordan & Sahoo, Amarendra & Perez-Dominguez, Ignacio, 2022. "Co-benefits of a flexitarian diet for air quality and human health in Europe," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    6. Guo, Shibo & Zhao, Jin & Zhao, Chuang & Guo, Erjing & Liu, Zhijuan & Harrison, Matthew Tom & Liu, Ke & Zhang, Tianyi & Yang, Xiaoguang, 2024. "Adapting crop land-use in line with a changing climate improves productivity, prosperity and reduces greenhouse gas emissions," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).

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