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Estimation of the PM 2.5 health effects in China during 2000-2011.

Authors :: Wu J
Zhu J
Li W
Xu D
Liu J
Source :: Environmental science and pollution research international [Environ Sci Pollut Res Int] 2017 Apr; Vol. 24 (11), pp. 10695-10707. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Mar 11.
Publication Year :: 2017
Abstract: Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> ) has been associated with mortality, but the extent of the adverse impacts differs across various regions. A quantitative estimation of health effects attributed to PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> in China is urgently required, particularly because it has the largest population and high air pollution levels. Based on the remote sensing-derived PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> and grid population data, we estimated the acute health effects of PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> in China using an exposure-response function. The results suggest the following: (1) The proportion of the population exposed to high PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> concentrations (>35 μg/m <superscript>3</superscript> ) increased consistently from 2000 to 2011, and the population exposed to concentrations above the threshold defined by World Health Organization (WHO) (>10 μg/m <superscript>3</superscript> ) rose from 1,191,191,943 to 1,290,562,965. (2) The number of deaths associated with PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> exposure increased steadily from 107,608 in 2000 to 173,560 in 2010, with larger numbers in the eastern region. (3) PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> health effects decreased in three pollution control scenarios estimated for 2017, i.e., the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP) scenario, the APPCAP under WHO IT-1 scenario (35 μg/m <superscript>3</superscript> ), and the APPCAP under WHO IT-3 scenario (15 μg/m <superscript>3</superscript> ), which indicates that pollution control can effectively reduce PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> effects on mortality.