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Arden PopeAmerican economist
Country:
 USA |
Content:
Biography of Arden Pope
Early Life and EducationArden Pope is an American economist, professor of economics at Brigham Young University in Utah, and one of the world's leading experts in applied ecology. He obtained his bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in 1978 and went on to earn his master's and doctoral degrees in economics and statistics from Iowa State University in 1981.
Research and Contributions
Although Professor Pope's research has covered various topics, including environmental economics, resource economics, and agricultural economics, he is best known for his interdisciplinary work in the field of environmental epidemiology and public health. He gained worldwide recognition for his prolific research on the impact of air pollution on mortality and health. His articles helped establish the link between air pollution and health problems, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory illnesses. The findings of Pope's research significantly influenced environmental policies in the United States and Europe, leading to the implementation of emission standards for particulate matter.
Key Study: Respiratory Hospital Admissions Associated with PM10 Pollution in Utah, Salt Lake, and Cache Valleys
At the beginning of his career, Pope published a groundbreaking article that became a cornerstone in applied ecology and policy. He investigated the effects of emissions from the Geneva Steel company's metallurgical plant on the health of people living in Utah Valley. The emissions, resulting from the consumption of fossil fuels, contained a high concentration of particulate matter. Pope compared hospitalization data before, during, and after the temporary closure of the plant. His research was the first to convincingly demonstrate the direct harm caused by particulate matter to human health. Asthma, mortality rates, and respiratory diseases were found to be twice as high when the plant was operational compared to periods when it was shut down. Disturbingly, even preschool-aged children in the region suffered from asthma and bronchitis twice as often as their counterparts in areas with healthier environments.
Awards and Recognitions
Pope's research results sparked intense debates, and he faced pressure from opposing sides. Nevertheless, in 2004, he was awarded the Medal for Scientific and Technological Achievements by the Governor of Utah. In 2007, he received the Karl G. Maeser award from Brigham Young University for his outstanding contributions to the field of economics.
