Reconsidering the effects of urban form on PM2.5 concentrations: an urban shrinkage perspective

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 30; no. 13; pp. 38550 - 38565
• Main Authors: Sun, Jianing, Zhou, Tao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.03.2023
• Subjects: air pollution; air quality; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; China; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; land use; Research Article; shrinkage; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; China; Urban form; Spatial econometric model; concentrations; Urban shrinkage; PM; China
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-25044-8

The phenomenon of urban shrinkage is currently occurring worldwide; however, the “growth-oriented” planning paradigm is not suitable for these shrinking cities. Reconsidering the relationship between urban form and PM 2.5 concentrations from the perspective of urban shrinkage can help provide a research reference for controlling air pollution and optimizing the spatial layout of shrinking cities. This study takes shrinking areas in China as the research subject, which are divided into four research groups according to their shrinkage degree. The empirical results indicate that the average PM 2.5 concentrations decrease with the aggravation of urban shrinkage. In terms of the effect of urban form on PM 2.5 concentrations, the urban size is always positively related to PM 2.5 concentrations, while the impact of urban fragmentation on PM 2.5 concentrations is negligible. Further, urban shape positively affects PM 2.5 concentrations only in moderately and severely shrinking cities. Cities with sprawling urban forms have higher PM 2.5 concentrations, except for those facing severe shrinking trends. This study suggests that governments in shrinking cities should reasonably adjust both the urban form and land use to improve air quality based on the degree of urban shrinkage.