Integrated assessment of the spatial variability of ozone impacts from emissions of nitrogen oxides

This paper examines the ozone (O₃) damages caused by nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions in different locations around the Atlanta metropolitan area during a summer month. We calculate O₃ impacts using a new integrated assessment model that links pollution emissions to their chemical transformation, transport, population exposures, and effects on human health. We find that increased NO_x emissions in rural areas around Atlanta increase human exposure to ambient O₃ twice as much as suburban emissions. However, increased NO_x emissions in central city Atlanta actually reduce O₃ exposures. For downtown emissions, the reduction in human exposures to O₃ from titration by NO in the central city outweighs the effects from increased downwind O₃. The results indicate that the marginal damage from NO_x emissions varies greatly across a metropolitan area. The results raise concerns if cap and trade regulations cause emissions to migrate toward higher marginal damage locations.