Relative Risk and Health Condition Parameters used to estimate Health Damages Associated with Drinking Water Nitrate Contamination in MN Cities

Abstract

Despite the fact that clean water regularly rates among the public’s top environmental priorities, economic analyses of clean water interventions often fail to find positive benefit to cost ratios. We pursue the notion that this is due to uncounted benefits, expanding research on avoidable health costs attributable to drinking water nitrate contamination. We consider fifteen adverse health conditions linked by epidemiological evidence to elevated levels of drinking water nitrate, calculating counts of nitrate-attributable cases for each municipal water supply in Minnesota and associated monetary costs. In addition to estimating the costs of direct medical services and avoided fatality, we apply the quality adjusted life year (QALY) approach to monetize the quality of life impacts of morbidity. The files in this repository entry represent the relative risk estimates and other parameters necessary to calculate these mortality and morbidity costs.