Global pattern of pollution manufacturing index

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production Vol. 286; p. 125497
• Main Authors: Cai, Qixiang, Yan, Xiaodong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2021
• Subjects: Environmental purification; Global environment pollution assessment; Oxygen consumption; Pollution manufacturing index (PMI); Global environment pollution assessment; Oxygen consumption; Pollution manufacturing index (PMI); Environmental purification
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125497

Due to the diversity of pollution types, previous assessment methods have mostly been based on local conditions. In addition, polluted regions may transfer pollutants to other areas via general circulation of the atmosphere, surface or groundwater flows, and trade. This means that polluted regions actually suffer from fewer pollution hazards than they should and that the contribution of clean areas to the process of environmental purification is also underestimated. When comparing different areas, few studies have well identified, on a global scale, where most of such pollution problems come from. Observational experiments have shown that the slight reduction in the global oxygen pool can be attributed to pollutants, especially in the processes of fossil fuels and biomass burning, as well as contaminant production and degradation. Therefore, this paper innovatively proposes to use oxygen consumption via pollutant production and degradation as a unified indicator, i.e., the pollution manufacturing index (PMI), to quantitatively address the relative contribution of any country to global pollution. The greater the PMI is, the greater the amount of pollution produced in a country, and vice versa. Our results classify all countries into three categories. Approximately 25.6% of countries are contributors to global pollution (PMI>0.5), almost 46.4% of countries are balanced and make nonsignificant contributions to purification and pollution (0.5 > PMI > −0.5), and approximately 28% of countries are purification contributors (PMI < −0.5). Furthermore, fossil fuel is the main cause of oxygen consumption in countries such as those in Europe and North America. The livestock respirations, fossil fuel burning and solid waste treatment are all the dominant indicators in sub-Saharan Africa. For the Asian and Pacific region, fossil fuel burning alone accounts for approximately half of total oxygen consumption. The PMI proposed in this study can quickly assess the overall environmental pollution caused by multiple pollutants in different regions and make it possible to distinguish the major pollutants in various regions. Our method is a supplement to existing environmental assessment methods, and the results can provide a basis for policy formulation regarding pollution control. [Display omitted] •It’s hard to measure the amount and effects of pollution due to its diversity types.•Oxygen is used as an unified indicator for the contribution of regions to global pollution.•Contributions from countries towards environmental purification was underestimated.•Countries discharge a lot of pollutant are burdening pollution on clean countries.