Increasing life expectancy in China by achieving its 2025 air quality target

Abstract

China is striving to build a “Beautiful China” characterized by clean air. The country has committed to further reducing its national mean fine particle (PM2.5) concentration by 10% from 2020 to 2025, following the substantial improvements in its air quality during the past decade. Meanwhile, the “Healthy China” mission has pledged to increase the national mean life expectancy by one year during the same period. Yet, to what extent will the “Beautiful China” mission contribute to the “Healthy China” vision by reducing the levels of the detrimental PM2.5 is still unclear. Here, by coupling the life table approach and an epidemiological concentration-response model, this study quantifies the potential benefits of achieving China's 2025 air quality target on the national life expectancy. The analysis reveals that the Chinese citizen could expect to extend the average life expectancy by 42.5 days by 2025 due to improved air quality. In addition, if the Chinese government outperforms the planned air quality target, as it usually does, the gains would increase to 65.4 days, ∼18% of the “Healthy China” life expectancy increment task. Further reductions in PM2.5 concentration would lead to accelerated gains in life expectancy both nationally and at the city level, providing strong incentives for the authorities to keep improving air quality. This study reveals the notable benefits on individual life that could be expected from air quality improvement in China and suggests that longer life expectancy is achievable by implementing a health-prioritized air quality management mechanism.