Cost-Effective Control of Interdependent Water Pollutants |
| |
Authors: | Katarina Elofsson |
| |
Institution: | (1) National Institute of Economic Research, Stockholm, Sweden |
| |
Abstract: | Excess nutrient loads to coastal waters lead to increased production of algae, which when decaying cause oxygen depletion
in bottom sediments, which in turn leads to major changes in marine ecosystems. A cost-minimization model was investigated
in which nitrogen and phosphorus were assumed to interact with respect to algae production. It was investigated under what
conditions only a single nutrient should be decreased and when it is cost-effective to decrease both nutrients. The model
was applied to the Baltic Proper, which is the largest of the seven major basins in the Baltic Sea. Results showed that the
stringency of the environmental target, as well as assumptions regarding substitutability between nutrients, are important
factors to determine the nutrient on which to focus. Uniform decrease rates for emissions are often used in international
agreements, and the results of this model showed that the costs of making such proportional decreases could be substantial. |
| |
Keywords: | Algae production Baltic Proper Cost-effectiveness Nitrogen Phosphorus Substitution |
本文献已被 PubMed SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|