Cardiorespiratory hospitalization costs due to air pollution from biomass burning and wildfires in the Legal Amazon and Northern Cerrado regions (2010-2021)

Abstract

This study estimated the financial costs to the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) from hospitalizations due to cardiorespiratory diseases associated with exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emitted by biomass burning in cities of the Legal Amazon and northern Cerrado from 2010 to 2021. This retrospective ecological study used data from the SUS Hospital Information System (SIH) and applied the methodology recommended by the World Health Organization to calculate attributable fractions. The results indicate an average annual impact on the SUS of approximately BRL 17.6 million. The highest hospitalization costs were concentrated in municipalities within the Deforestation Arc, where exposure to pollution from biomass burning is most intense. The study highlighted the effects of environmental degradation on health, guiding public policy decision-makers toward more sustainable development.