Mortality burden due to long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 above the new WHO air quality guideline based on 296 cities in China. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Chunlei; Xu, Rongbin; Ye, Tingting; Xie, Yang; Zhao, Yang; Liu, Haiyun; Yu, Wenhua; Zhang, Yajuan; Li, Shanshan; Zhang, Zhongwen; Ding, Yimin; Han, Kun; Fang, Chang; Ji, Baocheng; Zhai, Wenhui; Guo, Yuming
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 166(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107331
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Little is known about the regional and socioeconomic disparities in PM2.5 -mortality burden in China. We provided data of PM2.5 -related mortality burdens for 296 Chinese cities during 2015–2019. There were significant regional and socioeconomic disparities in PM2.5 -related mortality burdens. Different regions and socioeconomic groups may need different mitigation policies. Abstract: Objective: Quantifying the spatial and socioeconomic variation of mortality burden attributable to particulate matters with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5 ) has important implications for pollution control policy. This study aims to examine the regional and socioeconomic disparities in the mortality burden attributable to long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 in China. Methods: Using data of 296 cities across China from 2015 to 2019, we estimated all-cause mortality (people aged ≥ 16 years) attributable to the long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 above the new WHO air quality guideline (5 µg/m 3 ). Attributed fraction (AF), attributed deaths (AD), attributed mortality rate (AMR) and total value of statistical life lost (VSL) by regional and socioeconomic levels were reported. Results: Over the period of 2015–2019, 17.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 7.4–25.2] of all-cause mortality were attributable to long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5, corresponding to 1, 425.2 thousand deaths (95% CI: 622.4–2, 099.6), 103.5/10 5 (95% CI: 44.9–153.3) AMR, and 1006.9 billion USD (95% CI: 439.8–1483.4) total VSL per year. The AMR decreased from 120.5/10 5 (95% CI: 52.9–176.6) to 92.7/10 5 (95% CI:39.9–138.5) from 2015 to 2019. The highest mortality burden was observed in the north region (annual average AF = 24.2%, 95% CI: 10.8–35.1; annual average AMR = 137.0/10 5, 95% CI: 60.9–198.5). The highest AD and economic loss were observed in the east region (annual average AD = 390.0 thousand persons, 95% CI: 170.3–574.6; annual total VSL = 275.6 billion USD, 95% CI: 120.3–406.0). Highest AMR was in the cities with middle level of GDP per capita (PGDP)/urbanization. The majority of the top ten cities of AF, AMR and VSL were in high and middle PGDP/urbanization regions. Conclusion: There were significant regional and socioeconomic disparities in PM2.5 attributed mortality burden among Chinese cities, suggesting differential mitigation policies are required for different regions in China.