Damage costs to material and crops, cleaning costs due to soiling, and so on, although not easy to determine, can be estimated as a function of pollutant levels (Rid- ker, 1967). However, there is the problem of translating into monetary value the effects on health resulting from air pollution. One way of looking at the problem is to ask: How much are people willing to spend to lower the incidence of disease, prevent disability, and prolong life? Attempts at answering this question have focused on the amount that is spent on medical care and the value of earnings missed as a result of sickness or death. Lave.
