New studies by scientists at the University of Minnesota show that in the United States, the damage to the environment caused by corn production is $ 39 billion, resulting in 4,300 premature deaths each year.

A paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Sustainability shows how researchers first estimated the health damage caused by corn production using detailed information on pollutant emissions, wind pollution and human exposure to increased levels of air pollution.

Corn is a key crop used as animal feed, ethanol biofuel and human consumption.

The average damage to health caused by reduced air quality is US $ 3.07 per bushel (56.5 pounds) of corn, accounting for 62 percent of the average corn market price of US $ 4.95 per bushel over the past decade.

Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from corn production and climate change associated with this are estimated at $ 4.9 billion, or $ 0.38 per bushel of corn.