Health care costs for environment-related diseases were estimated at $76.6 billion in 2008, according to a study published in the May edition of Health Affairs.
This represents 3.5% of U.S. health care costs. The researchers analyzed prevalence of the disease, the degree of environmental influence, the population at risk, and costs per case. Indirect costs, such as loss of productivity because of parents caring for sick children, also were included.
The study focused on diseases linked to environmental causes: lead poisoning ($50.9 billion), exposure to methyl mercury ($5.1 billion), childhood cancer (costing $95 million), and chronic conditions like asthma ($2.2 billion), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ($5 billion), autism ($7.9 billion), and intellectual disability ($5.4 billion).
After comparing the findings with a similar study from 2002, costs had increased $2.9 billion since 1997. The 2002 study found that costs for environment-related diseases totaled $54.9 billion in 1997 ($73.7 billion in 2008 dollars), or 2.8% of health care costs, reported Dr. Leonardo Trasande of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, and Dr. Yinghua Liu of National Children’s Study New York–Northern New Jersey Center (Health Affairs 2011 [doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2010.1239]).
Although data showed an improvement in asthma costs and reduced lead exposure, those gains are hampered by increased mercury exposure and diseases that have been more recently attributed to the environment, like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. To reduce costs, Dr. Trasande and Dr. Liu recommended premarket testing of new chemicals, toxicity testing of chemicals already in use, reduction of mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants, and reduction of hazards related to lead-based paint.
"Left unchecked, these preventable environmental factors will continue to harm the health of our children and push up health care costs," Dr. Trasande said in a statement. The study was conducted to underline the need for policy change, according to the researchers. Since the 2002 study, the government has failed to update the 1973 Toxic Substances Control Act to require that chemicals be tested for their toxicity before attaining approval by the Environmental Protection Agency, the researchers said.
"By updating environmental regulations and laws aimed at protecting the public’s health, we can reduce the toll taken by such factors on children’s health and the economy," Dr. Trasande noted in his statement.
Dr. Trasande and Dr. Liu said they had no relevant financial disclosures.