ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF HEALTH EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIAL AIR POLLUTION IN KENYA: A CASE OF WEBUYE AND ITS ENVIRONS

Abstract

The significance of the pulp and paper industry either historically or at present cannot be gainsaid. However, this industry has been characterised as resource inefficient and heavy pollutant. In contemporary times, air pollution is considered an important research driver for a global public health protection. This study conducted an economic analysis of the health effects of industrial air pollution in Kenya, specifically in Webuye town and its environs. This was realized by estimating levels of ambient air quality through the use of economic tools, evaluating the economic implication of human health of emission and post emission pollution and examining the willingness to pay measures for associated health effects. The study was anchored on the Theory of Consumer Behaviour and its attendant approaches- Hedonic Pricing valuation and Contingent Valuation. Mixed research design methodology was employed in the form of meta-analysis, correlational study design and observational population-based cohort study. The study conducted a household survey comprising of 566 household heads selected on the basis of the National Sampling Survey and Evaluation Programme IV. The study analysed emission between two time periods of 2007 and 2009 (with emission) and between 2014 and 2015 (without emission). The study found that the mean emission rate for Particulate Matter for Webuye town as 102.1712 μg/m3which is about three times the allowed emission rates by Environmental Protection Agency. As regards to respiratory symptoms suffered by households in these neighbourhoods, the study also found out that the most prevalent symptom was a persistent cough since it presented in about seven in every ten respondents in Webuye when emissions were present. Further, prevalence rates of respiratory symptoms were observed to be higher in Webuye at the time of emission. Again, concerning Lower Respiratory Tract Infection, the study finds a significant difference between prevalence in the emission and post emission periods. The study also found a positive association between PM10 concentration and prevalence of respiratory symptoms among household members. Regarding willingness to pay, the study found that property structural characteristics were significant and positively related to housing values. Conversely, air pollution was found to have a negative impact on housing values. The study concludes that for a given household, each unit-increment in PM10 concentration effects an estimated decrease in housing-unit value of -0.541 times housing-unit value divided by the associated PM10 level. These findings point to the fact that industrial pollution when allowed to proceed unabated will lead to a contaminated atmosphere which gravely affects human health and diminishes the quality of life and economic well-being of individuals as expressed in this study on reduced housing values. These conditions are the same irrespective of where the polluting agent is located. The study recommends that an industrial national pollution standard established in Kenya be enforced. The standards should be monitored through a pollution monitoring centre as part of standards enforcement.