Economic Costs Associated with the Adverse Health Effects of PM10 and O3 Health over the Greater Athens Area, Greece, for the Period 2001–2019

Air pollution imposes significant economic burdens due to its adverse health effects. This study estimates the economic cost of premature mortality from PM10 and ground-level O3 exposure in the Greater Athens Area (2001–2019), using the value of statistical life and willingness-to-pay methods. Despite low PM10 levels in 2011, rising O3 concentrations from 2015–2019 correlated with increased cardiorespiratory mortality costs. The average cost reached €1253 million per 100,000 people. Results suggest air pollution mortality costs follow Gross Domestic Product (GDP) trends, underscoring the economic and public health value of improving air quality.