Abstract
BackgroundEvaluation of the adverse health effects of PM10 pollution (particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter) is very important for protecting human health and establishing pollution control policy. Population exposure estimation is the first step in formulating exposure data for quantitative assessment of harmful PM10 pollution.MethodsIn this paper, we estimate PM10 concentration using a spatial interpolation method on a grid with a spatial resolution 0.01° × 0.01°. PM10 concentration data from monitoring stations are spatially interpolated, based on accurate population data in 2000 using a geographic information system. Then, an interpolated population layer is overlaid with an interpolated PM10 concentration layer, and population exposure levels are calculated. Combined with the exposure-response function between PM10 and health endpoints, economic costs of the adverse health effects of PM10 pollution are analyzed.ResultsThe results indicate that the population in Lanzhou urban areas is distributed in a narrow and long belt, and there are relatively large population spatial gradients in the XiGu, ChengGuan and QiLiHe districts. We select threshold concentration C0 at: 0 μg m-3 (no harmful health effects), 20 μg m-3 (recommended by the World Health Organization), and 50 μg m-3 (national first class standard in China) to calculate excess morbidity cases. For these three scenarios, proportions of the economic cost of PM10 pollution-related adverse health effects relative to GDP are 0.206%, 0.194% and 0.175%, respectively. The impact of meteorological factors on PM10 concentrations in 2000 is also analyzed. Sandstorm weather in spring, inversion layers in winter, and precipitation in summer are important factors associated with change in PM10 concentration.ConclusionsThe population distribution by exposure level shows that the majority of people live in polluted areas. With the improvement of evaluation criteria, economic damage of respiratory disease caused by PM10 is much bigger. The health effects of Lanzhou urban residents should not be ignored. The government needs to find a better way to balance the health of residents and economy development. And balance the pros and cons before making a final policy.
Highlights
Evaluation of the adverse health effects of PM10 pollution is very important for protecting human health and establishing pollution control policy
In 2004, a study was done to assess the health impacts of by PM10 pollution in 111 key Chinese cities. None of these cities have attained the national first class ambient air quality standard, and over half currently exceed the national second class standard, The total economic cost caused by PM10 pollution was estimated as approximately USD 29,178.7 million [8]
Population data were spatially interpolated to attain the higher spatial resolution matching that of PM10 concentration data
Summary
Evaluation of the adverse health effects of PM10 pollution (particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter) is very important for protecting human health and establishing pollution control policy. Air pollution has become one of the most visible environmental problems in China, because of massive coal combustion with inadequate emission controls Natural sources such as sandstorms are important, especially in North China, such as the area around Lanzhou [3,4,5,6]. In 2004, a study was done to assess the health impacts of by PM10 pollution (less than 10 microns in diameter) in 111 key Chinese cities None of these cities have attained the national first class ambient air quality standard, and over half currently exceed the national second class standard, The total economic cost caused by PM10 pollution was estimated as approximately USD 29,178.7 million [8]. PM is the most important air pollutant in the northern part of the country [9]
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