www.gioconda.ifc.cnr.it

WILLINGNESS TO PAY AND AIR POLLUTION: THE RESULTS OF GIOCONDA LIFE PROJECT

Carla Guerriero, DISES Università degli studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli Italy

Meri Scaringi, ARPAE - Regional Centre for Environment and Health, Modena Italy

Liliana Cori, CNR -Istituto Fisiologia Clinica - Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pisa Italy

Stefano Zauli Sajani, ARPAE - Regional Centre for Environment and Health, Modena Italy

Stefano Marchesi, ARPAE - Regional Centre for Environment and Health, Modena Italy

Fabrizio Bianchi, CNR - Istituto Fisiologia Clinica Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pisa Italy

Paolo Lauriola, ARPAE - Regional Centre for Environment and Health, Modena Italy

The process took place in four Italian areas with different socio-economic and environmental pressures: Naples, Ravenna, Taranto and San Miniato (Pisa). In WTP questionnaire section, the pupils were asked how much they were willing to pay to reduce the risk related to air pollution. Those results were compared with the air quality measurements. Logistic regression was performed to investigate whether pupil’s characteristics influence the probability of scope sensitivity. A Tobit regression was used to analyse WTP estimates. A third model included PM10 annual means as covariates, as well as the result of the level of fear linked to the health effects of air pollution.

European and US health authorities recognize the importance of protecting children’s health and including benefits to children in the cost-benefit analysis of environmental interventions. The LIFE+ Gioconda Project involved 600 Italian pupils aged between 11 and 17 in producing recommendations on environment and health in their cities, basing on scientific data. During the participatory research action, air quality and noise were monitored inside and outside students’ classrooms, and a questionnaire measuring risk perception and willingness to pay (WTP) was filled.

The higher the mean PM10 was, the lower was the probability that young individuals were willing to spend part of their budget to support environmental policies that reduce the risk of asthma due to air pollution. Children were willing to pay less for health risk reduction with increasing age. The WTP estimates resulted directly affected by the degree of trust in a causal relationship between air pollution and health. Tobit regression didn’t show differences among the areas. The mean WTP for high risk reduction was € 63, while for low risk reduction was € 52.

The results achieved strenghten the relevance of WTP for cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness assessments in children’s environmental health.

63 60

52

35

23,74

29,74 29,11 31,35

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Taranto Napoli Valdarno Inferiore Ravenna

Euro

PM10

“Everyone matters”

Figure 1. Distribution of children’s age.

Figure 2. Willingness to pay (Euro) and PM10 concentration

in each area.