Abstract
Urbanization is a key determinant of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution variability. However, there is a limited understanding of different urbanization factors’ roles in PM2.5 pollution. Using satellite-derived PM2.5 data from 2002 to 2017, we investigated the spatiotemporal evolution and the spatial autocorrelation of PM2.5 pollution in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region. Afterwards, the impacts of three urbanization factors (population urbanization, land urbanization and economic urbanization) on PM2.5 pollution were estimated by a spatial Durbin panel data model (SDM). Obtained results showed that: (i) PM2.5 pollution was larger in the north than in the south of YRD; (ii) Lianyungang and Yancheng cities had significant increasing trends in PM2.5 pollution from 2002 to 2017; (iii) the regional median center of PM2.5 pollution was observed in the Nanjing city, with gradual shifting to the northwest during the 16-year period; (iv) PM2.5 pollution showed significant and positive spatial autocorrelation and spillover effect; (v) population urbanization contributed more to the increase in PM2.5 pollution than land urbanization, while economic urbanization had no significant impact. The present study highlights the impacts of three urbanization factors on PM2.5 pollution which represent valuable and relevant information for air pollution control and urban planning.
Highlights
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) mostly originates from anthropogenic activities such as construction, traffic, industrial production, cooking, waste incineration, biomass burning, etc. [1,2]
To cope with the potential spatial dependence in PM2.5 pollution among the cities, we considered three types of spatial regression models when analyzing the impacts of urbanization on PM2.5 pollution [82]
The spatial Durbin model (SDM) model was fitted with the maximum likelihood (ML) estimator by considering the spatial and time fixed effects (Table 6)
Summary
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) mostly originates from anthropogenic activities such as construction, traffic, industrial production, cooking, waste incineration, biomass burning, etc. [1,2]. With small diameter and strong toxicological properties, PM2.5 can enter into the human body and induce cardiovascular and respiratory diseases [3,4,5]. High levels of PM2.5 reduce atmospheric visibility and disturb the earth’s radiative balance [6,7]. Numerous urban areas in China have suffered frequent heavy PM2.5 pollution [8]. Atmosphere 2020, 11, 1058 episodes affected central and eastern China between January and December 2013 [9]. These PM2.5 pollution episodes have resulted in severe impairments of human health and economic growth in
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