Abstract
Background: Particulate air pollution, especially PM2.5, is highly correlated with various adverse health impacts and, ultimately, economic losses for society, however, few studies have undertaken a spatiotemporal assessment of PM2.5-related economic losses from health impacts covering all of the main cities in China. Methods: PM2.5 concentration data were retrieved for 190 Chinese cities for the period 2014–2016. We used a log-linear exposure–response model and monetary valuation methods, such as value of a statistical life (VSL), amended human capital (AHC), and cost of illness to evaluate PM2.5-related economic losses from health impacts at the city level. In addition, Monte Carlo simulation was used to analyze uncertainty. Results: The average economic loss was 0.3% (AHC) to 1% (VSL) of the total gross domestic product (GDP) of 190 Chinese cities from 2014 to 2016. Overall, China experienced a downward trend in total economic losses over the three-year period, but the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, Shandong Peninsula, Yangtze River Delta, and Chengdu-Chongqing regions experienced greater annual economic losses. Conclusions: Exploration of spatiotemporal variations in PM2.5-related economic losses from long-term health impacts could provide new information for policymakers regarding priority areas for PM2.5 pollution prevention and control in China.
Highlights
Rapid industrialization and urbanization have made China one of the fastest growing economies in the world [1], this growth is having negative effects on both the environment and public health
Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region experienced the highest levels of PM2.5 pollution, followed by the and the Pearl River Delta region, which is consistent with the results reported in the “2016 China
The results of this study show that 21.7 million people suffered a health impact as a result of PM2.5 pollution and there were more than 0.28 million premature deaths in China in 2014, 18.1 million people suffered a health impact and there were 0.24 million premature deaths in 2015, and 16.1 million people suffered a health impact and there were 0.22 million premature deaths in 2016
Summary
Rapid industrialization and urbanization have made China one of the fastest growing economies in the world [1], this growth is having negative effects on both the environment and public health. Short-term and long-term exposure to PM2.5 is closely correlated with a range of acute and chronic health impacts, such as respiratory diseases [3], cardiovascular diseases [4,5], lung cancer [6,7,8], nervous system diseases [9], and congenital heart defects [10]. These negative health effects produce a heavy economic burden, including increased health expenditure, loss of working days, and reduced labor supply [11]. China experienced a downward trend in total economic losses over the three-year period, but the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, Shandong Peninsula, Yangtze River
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