Practise IB ESS HL 8.3.11 by applying tropospheric ozone indirect impacts concepts to exam-style environmental systems questions.
Explain how urban air pollution could lead to significant economic losses.
Urban air pollution can cause
a. Heart disease/lung cancer/respiratory diseases...;
b. ... raising medical/healthcare costs...;
c. ...and causing loss of employment/labour productivity;
d. ...premature deaths reducing workforce;
e. Reduction in agricultural productivity/yields may increase food price;
f. Damage to buildings/monuments/equipment needing costly repairs/maintenance;
g. Increased costs of mitigation/cleaning;
h. Cost of end of pipe technologies;
i. Cost of setting, monitoring and policing air quality standards; j. Cost of education/raising public awareness; k. Loss of revenue from tourism in heavily polluted venues;
I. Property devaluation of highly polluted cities/areas;
m. Companies offer hardship compensation for working in heavily polluted cities; n. Industries may be closed down due to excessive emissions; o. Switching to alternative energy sources is often expensive;
Note to examiners: Award [1 max] for each identified impact. Credit any valid statement of equivalent significance and validity.