UNITED NATIONS (02/15/06) -- A report just released 
by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) says governments that invest in air pollution control measures can save billions of dollars as health care costs are slashed, worker productivity soars and ecosystems flourish.

These savings, along with other economic gains such as sounder bridges, public buildings and other infrastructure that endure less corrosive air pollutants can be six times greater than the initial investments in techniques and equipment to curb air pollution, says UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook Year Book 2006.

The report’s findings on the economic savings emanating from investments in air pollution controls stem from work by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the experiences of city governments in Mexico City and Santiago, Chile.

The United States agency, for example, estimates that the economic benefits of the country’s Clean Air Act will total $690 billion over the 20-year period that ends in 2010. A Santiago study assessed the financial benefits stemming from compliance with the Santiago Decontamination Plan at $4 billion during a 15-year period.

These studies mirror a new report by the European Commission on achieving improved air quality standards by 2020. The Commission estimates that an investment of around $7 billion to reduce air pollution will deliver $42 billion in economic benefits as a result of "fewer premature deaths, less sickness, fewer hospital admissions and improved labour productivity."

The Year Book finds that indoor air pollution may be responsible for up to 2.4 million premature deaths a year while outdoor air pollution from industries and vehicle may trigger about 800,000 premature deaths annually, with 65 per cent of the deaths occurring in the developing countries of Asia.