http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca:80/dspace/handle/10625/40385 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:00:14 GMT 2013-06-19T15:00:14Z http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca:80/dspace/handle/10625/43040 Title: Informal regulation of pollution in a developing country : empirical evidence from India Authors: Kathuria, Vinish Abstract: Recent policy discussions recognize the limitations of formal regulations to stem pollution in developing countries. As a result, there is growing interest in the potential of informal regulations to achieve environmental goals. In India, many polluting industries fall under the rubric of the unorganized sector. In such a context, localized pollution may be influenced by discussions and reports on pollution in the vernacular press. This study attempts to test the hypothesis that the press can act as an informal agent of pollution control. This hypothesis is tested using monthly water pollution data from four hotspots in the state of Gujarat, for the period 1996 to 2000. The results show that the press can function as an informal regulator if there is sustained interest in news about pollution. However, not all pollution agents are affected by pollution news. Press coverage appears to mainly influence industrial estates with a mix of small, medium and large industries. Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca:80/dspace/handle/10625/43040 2004-01-01T00:00:00Z http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca:80/dspace/handle/10625/42743 Title: Economic instruments for environmental regulation in Africa : an analysis of the efficacy of fuel taxation for pollution control in South Africa Authors: Ziramba, Emmanuel; Kumo, Wolassa L.; Akinboade, Oludele A. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca:80/dspace/handle/10625/42743 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca:80/dspace/handle/10625/41854 Title: Prevalence and costs of childhood diarrhoea in the slums of Dhaka Authors: Jahangir Alam, M. Editors: Shyamsundar, Priya Abstract: Diarrhoea is a common water-borne disease among slum children in Bangladesh. This study seeks to identify the engineering, behavioural and socio-economic determinants of childhood diarrhoea and its duration and to compute the resulting costs borne by slum dwellers. The study is based on a survey of 480 households in 32 slums in Dhaka. Nearly 50 percent of slum households reported diarrhoea episodes during the recall period of 15 days, with an average duration of 3.76 days of diarrhoea. The cost of child diarrhoea per episode ranges from BDT 124 (USD 1.81) to BDT 276 (USD 4). The annual cost of child diarrhoea for a representative child ranges from BDT 296 (USD 4.29) to BDT 656 (USD 9.51) based on assumptions about the value of leisure time lost by care givers. The yearly cost of child diarrhoea for a representative household ranges from BDT 378 (USD 5.49) to BDT 837 (USD12.15) or 0.6 percent to 1.3 percent of annual household income. Participation in NGO hygiene awareness activities, owning a radio and television, the mother’s education level and hand washing reduce the probability of childhood diarrhoea while participation in NGO hygiene awareness activities, adoption of hand washing practices, and residence in a semi-pucca house structure reduce the duration of childhood diarrhoea. Our study suggests that more focus on water storage and hand washing in NGO and media campaigns and more concerted efforts by the state to provide clean water 24 hours a day to slum communities would go a long way towards controlling the incidence of childhood diarrhoea. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca:80/dspace/handle/10625/41854 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca:80/dspace/handle/10625/41850 Title: Revisiting the need of improved stoves : estimating health, time and carbon benefits Authors: Malla Thakuri, Min Bikram Editors: Nepal, Mani Abstract: Indoor air pollution (IAP), especially through the smoke released when burning solid biomass fuel for cooking, is a major environmental health problem in Nepal. About 85 percent of Nepalese households are dependent on solid biomass fuels for cooking energy. Among households using such fuels, most cook in poorly ventilated kitchens using inefficient stoves, leading to indoor air pollution and consequently health problems. While there are successful technologies/interventions which help to mitigate IAP, due to lack of evidence on the economic viability of such interventions, they have not been adequately scaled up. This study generates some evidence on the costs and benefits of a particular indoor air pollution control initiative. Based on a survey of 400 households in Rasuwa district, Nepal, the study finds that stove improvements and a smokehood in the kitchen can reduce the consumption of fuel, improve air quality and reduce the health costs borne by households. Such local interventions can also contribute to mitigating global problems such as the release of green house gases through biomass burning. This study finds that the average indoor air pollution level in traditional stove user households is 15 times higher than the recommended safe level which inevitably leads to high health expenditures. The benefit-cost analysis suggests that the investment in IAP mitigating intervention is viable from both the household and societal perspectives. Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca:80/dspace/handle/10625/41850 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca:80/dspace/handle/10625/38926 Title: Air quality and cement production : examining the implications of point source pollution in Sri Lanka Authors: Bogahawatte, Cyril; Herath, Janaranjana Abstract: Suspended particulate matter (SPM), dust, fumes and gases from cement production can result in a range of health effects to households living around factories. This study estimates the health costs associated with air pollution from a cement factory in the district of Puttalam in Sri Lanka. The study uses field data collected from 500 households living within a 3 km radius of the factory and measures seasonal air pollution to estimate dose-response functions and mitigation cost functions for different respiratory illnesses. The results indicate that the incidence of respiratory illness is about 14% amongst individuals who live in the vicinity of the cement factory. The study estimates that the expected annual welfare gain by reducing the SPM level by 50% is SLR 699 (US$ 7) per representative individual, while the annual welfare gain to all people living in the vicinity of the factory is SLR 2.96 million (US $ 29,600). Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://idl-bnc.idrc.ca:80/dspace/handle/10625/38926 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z