Health impact assessment of air pollution in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil

The aim of the present study was to perform the first analysis of predictive scenarios for a reduction in air pollution and associated costs in one of the largest metropolises in Brazil (city of Fortaleza). The pollutants analyzed were particulate matter (PM) from 2.5 to 10 mu m (PM2.5 and PM10) between the years 2015 and 2017. We evaluated the benefits to health that could be achieved if pollutant concentrations were reduced to certain values. Considering the predictive scenarios, a short-term reduction in PM10 by 5 mu g m(-3) would have avoided more than 130 hospitalizations due to cardiorespiratory diseases per year and a reduction by 20 mu g m(-3) would have avoided 410 hospitalizations. In monetary terms, this is equivalent to US$ 62,631.84 and US$ 191,329.24, respectively. For the long term, a reduction of 5 mu g m(-3) in PM2.5 levels have avoided more than 200 such hospitalizations and a reduction of 10 mu g m(-3) would have avoided more than 580 hospitalizations, corresponding to US$ 780,595,109.24 and US$ 2,239,924,053.64, respectively.