Estimated effects of air quality control measures on mortality reduction and economic benefits during the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games

Abstract

During the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, the local government implemented a series of emission control measures. Fixed-effect model and generalized additive model were conducted to evaluate the association between control measures and health benefits. Daily non-accidental mortality decreased from 71 deaths per day before taking control measures to 61 during the under-control period. Interim measures reduced SO2, NO2, PM2.5, PM10 by 6.63%, 12.96%, 8.72% and 10.30%, while comprehensive measures further reduced pollutants by 12.19%, 8.89%, 25.05% and 30.86%. A μg/m3 decrease in SO2, NO2, PM2.5, PM10 was associated with decreases in all-cause mortality of 2.91%(95%CI:1.57%,4.24%), 1.36%(95%CI:0.62%,2.11%), 0.55%(95%CI:0.23%,0.87%) and 0.39%(95%CI: 0.15%,0.62%). According to the calculation, the game specifically reduced about 1000 acute deaths from all cause and produced about 500 million USD of benefits, demonstrating a statistically significant association between air quality controls and health benefits. The result also shows that relevant controls to deal with NO2 and PM should be taken more stringently in heavily polluted cities.