Economic valuation of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) health impacts in urban Thailand: A life cycle impact assessment complement to risk-based frameworks

Abstract

AbstractRisk assessment frameworks identify when particulate matter (PM) exposure exceeds safety thresholds, but policy implementation requires economic quantification of health impacts to guide resource allocation and intervention prioritization. The economic burden of PM<inf>2.5</inf> and PM<inf>10</inf> health impacts was quantified across the Bangkok Metropolitan Area using Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methodology to complement established risk-based frameworks. The ReCiPe 2016 impact assessment methodology was applied using 5 years (2020–2024) of PM data from government monitoring stations across Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan provinces. Health impacts were quantified using Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) for cardiopulmonary disease and lung cancer. Economic valuation was based on the Thailand-specific Value of Statistical Life. The annual health burden totaled 146,838 DALYs, with economic costs of $1.26 billion USD (95% CI: $0.99–1.57 billion). The winter season imposed the highest burden (67,255 DALYs, $578 million), followed by the summer (48,120 DALYs, $413 million) and the rainy season (31,461 DALYs, $271 million). Bangkok had the highest economic burden ($863 million), although per-capita impacts ($141–158) remained equitable across provinces. Extended-season interventions achieved optimal cost-effectiveness ($849–1189 per DALY) with benefit-cost ratios of 7.3:1 to 10.2:1. Economic burden showed moderate correlation with Hazard Index (r = 0.391, p < 0.001). This economic quantification transforms prior risk identification into actionable policy guidance, showing that winter health burdens cost 2.1 times as much as those in the rainy season, thereby justifying meteorologically informed seasonal targeting. Extended-season strategies are more cost-effective than annual-average approaches. Results provide essential economic evidence for coordinated air quality management in tropical monsoon climates.