Impact of Low Emission Zones on air pollution, health and well-being: Evidence from England - Economics Seminar

Event Date: 23 February 2022

Speaker: Eleonora Fichera, Deputy Head of Department ( Department of Economics ) at the University of Bath

Time: 4-5:30pm

Location: Please contact Rachel Hill (r.hill@strath.ac.uk) for Zoom details

Abstract:

"In this study we investigate the effects of London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on general health and wellbeing. LEZ was launched in 2008 over most of Greater London. ULEZ, implemented in central London since early 2019, is the toughest standard of any city in the world. We use postcode level data from Transport for London (TFL) to identify the areas under LEZ ad ULEZ and match them with the postcodes of the air quality monitoring stations from UK Air Quality Archive. Moreover, we match the Quarterly Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey to LEZ and ULEZ postcodes to construct individual level exposure/treatment. We then use difference-in-differences method exploiting the time of introduction of LEZ and ULEZ and comparing exposed areas in Greater London and Central London to comparable unexposed areas in England. On air quality, we find that LEZ did not reduce NO2, but it decreased PM10 in Greater London by 12-14% in comparison with the pre-LEZ mean in the zone. Moreover, ULEZ significantly reduced both NO2 by 14.4% and PM10 by 31.8% in Central London. On health, we find that LEZ reduced the probability of having long-term health problems by 4%, the probability of experiencing CVDs by 11%, the probability of having health problem that limits activity by 7%, the probability of asking sick leave by 11%. For people working in central London, LEZ reduces CVDs by 22.5% and sick leave by 21.7%. The adoption of T-Charge also decreased long-term health problem by 13% , CVDs by 30% , heart diseases by 21% and sick leave by 21.7%. LEZ is more beneficial for those from poorer areas.In this study we investigate the effects of London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on general health and wellbeing. LEZ was launched in 2008 over most of Greater London. ULEZ, implemented in central London since early 2019, is the toughest standard of any city in the world. We use postcode level data from Transport for London (TFL) to identify the areas under LEZ ad ULEZ and match them with the postcodes of the air quality monitoring stations from UK Air Quality Archive. Moreover, we match the Quarterly Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey to LEZ and ULEZ postcodes to construct individual level exposure/treatment. We then use difference-in-differences method exploiting the time of introduction of LEZ and ULEZ and comparing exposed areas in Greater London and Central London to comparable unexposed areas in England. On air quality, we find that LEZ did not reduce NO2, but it decreased PM10 in Greater London by 12-14% in comparison with the pre-LEZ mean in the zone. Moreover, ULEZ significantly reduced both NO2 by 14.4% and PM10 by 31.8% in Central London. On health, we find that LEZ reduced the probability of having long-term health problems by 4%, the probability of experiencing CVDs by 11%, the probability of having health problem that limits activity by 7%, the probability of asking sick leave by 11%. For people working in central London, LEZ reduces CVDs by 22.5% and sick leave by 21.7%. The adoption of T-Charge also decreased long-term health problem by 13% , CVDs by 30% , heart diseases by 21% and sick leave by 21.7%. LEZ is more beneficial for those from poorer areas."

Published: 19 January 2022