Assessment of PM2.5-related health effects: A comparative study using multiple methods and multi-source data in China. (1st August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hou, Xiaoyun; Guo, Qinghai; Hong, Yan; Yang, Qiaowei; Wang, Xinkui; Zhou, Siyang; Liu, Haiqiang
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 306(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08-01
• Subjects: PM2.5 pollution -- Cause-specific mortality -- Multiple comparison -- Scenario simulation -- Economic cost; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119381
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: In China, PM2.5 pollution has caused extensive death and economic loss. Thus, an accurate assessment of the spatial distribution of these losses is crucial for delineating priority areas for air pollution control in China. In this study, we assessed the PM2.5 exposure-related health effects according to the integrated exposure risk function and non-linear power law (NLP) function in 338 prefecture-level cities in China by utilizing online monitoring data and the PM2.5 Hindcast Database (PHD). Our results revealed no significant difference between the monitoring data and PHD ( p value = 0.66 > 0.05). The number of deaths caused by PM2.5 -related Stroke (cerebrovascular disease), ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer at the national level estimated through the NLP function was 0.27 million (95% CI: 0.06–0.50), 0.23 million (95% CI: 0.08–0.38), 0.31 million (95% CI: 0.04–0.57), and 0.31 million (95% CI: 0.16–0.40), respectively. The total economic cost at the national level in 2016 was approximately US$80.25 billion (95% CI: 24.46–132.25). Based on a comparison of Z statistics, we propose that the evaluation results obtained using the NLP function and monitoring data are accurate. Additionally, according to scenario simulations, Beijing, Chongqing, Tianjin, and other cities should be priority areas for PM2.5 pollution control to achieve considerable health benefits. Our statistics can help improve the accuracy of PM2.5 -related health effect assessments in China. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Non-linear power law function was suitable for PM2.5 -related health assessments. All-cause mortality attributed to PM2.5 pollution was 1.12 million in China. The total calculated national economic cost was approximately US$80.25 billion. Megacities should be the control focus of PM2.5 pollution in China.