Public health benefits of reducing air pollution in Shanghai: A proof-of-concept methodology with application to BenMAP

Abstract

In recent years, levels of particulate matter (PM) air pollution in China have been relatively high, exceeding China's Class II standards in many cities and impacting public health. This analysis takes Chinese health impact functions and underlying health incidence, applies 2010–2012 modeled and monitored PM air quality data, and estimates avoided cases of mortality and morbidity in Shanghai, assuming achievement of China's Class II air quality standards.In Shanghai, the estimated avoided all cause mortality due to PM10 ranged from 13 to 55 cases per day and from 300 to 800 cases per year. The estimated avoided impact on hospital admissions due to PM10 ranged from 230 cases to 580 cases per day and from 5400 to 7900 per year. The estimated avoided impact on all cause mortality due to PM2.5 ranged from 6 to 26 cases per day and from 39 to 1400 per year. The estimated impact on all cause mortality of a year exposure to an annual or monthly mean PM2.5 concentration ranged from 180 to 3500 per year.In Shanghai, the avoided cases of all cause mortality had an estimated monetary value ranging from 170million yuan (1 US dollar=4.2 yuan Purchasing Power Parity) to 1200million yuan. Avoided hospital admissions had an estimated value from 20 to 43million yuan. Avoided emergency department visits had an estimated value from 5.6million to 15million yuan. Avoided outpatient visits had an estimated value from 21million to 31million yuan.In this analysis, available data were adequate to estimate avoided health impacts and assign monetary value. Sufficient supporting documentation was available to construct and format data sets for use in the United States Environmental Protection Agency's health and environmental assessment model, known as the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program — Community Edition (“BenMAP-CE”).