I need to answer this question.
The damage from this will be more than $23 billion this year?

This was how the question was worded.  It was further revealed that
this was for the United States and somehow was related to commercials
I assume to stop this damage?  My guess is tobacco or smoking. 
Perhaps the 23 billion figure is included in commercials but I'm not
sure?
I think the total cost of smoking is greater but perhaps this is
related to
just medical costs? or it could be something completely different.


   Ken

George Bush?

Telling lies, half truths and false inferences?   Neil

For California only...

http://www.faultline.org/news/2002/06/greendog.html

"Environmentally-Damaging State Programs Cost $23 Billion"


http://www.chrisandjackie.com/23.htm

has coincidental incidences of the number 23...


http://www.ne.doe.gov/ has:

"Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham released the
Department of Energy’s (DOE) fiscal year 2004
budget request to Congress, calling it a "good
reflection on the Energy Department, its programs 
nd its people." Abraham said that the $23.4 billion
budget request ..."

Here is a possible answer:

"Annual direct medical costs to treat 2.3 million osteoporosis-induced
fractures in Europe and the USA are USD 23 billion."

http://www.karger.com/gazette/65/anderson2/table_1.htm

Here's another:

"In the U.S., about 23 billion dollars is spent in medical costs
related to smoking. Over 30 billion dollars are lost due to decreased
productivity and absences from work linked to health problems related
to smoking."

http://health.yahoo.com/health/dc/002393/0.html