Mortality effects assessment of ambient PM2.5 pollution in the 74 leading cities of China

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 569-570; pp. 1545 - 1552
• Main Authors: Fang, Die, Wang, Qin'geng, Li, Huiming, Yu, Yiyong, Lu, Yan, Qian, Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2016
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - adverse effects; Air Pollution - adverse effects; China; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Monitoring; Health impact assessment; Humans; Meta-analysis; Models, Theoretical; Particulate Matter - adverse effects; PM2.5 pollution; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; China, People's Rep; PM2.5 pollution; Health impact assessment; China; Meta-analysis; PM(2.5) pollution
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.06.248

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution is currently a most severe and worrisome environmental problem in China. However, current knowledge of the health effects of this pollution is insufficient. This study aims to provide an overall understanding regarding the long-term mortality effects of current PM2.5 pollution in China and the potential health benefits of realizing the goals stipulated in the ongoing action plan of Air Pollution Prevention and Control (APPC) and the targets suggested by the WHO. Three typical causes and all-cause of PM2.5-related mortality were considered. The log-linear exposure-response function was adopted, and a meta-analysis was used to determine the exposure-response coefficients, based on newly available data in China and abroad. In the 74 leading cities of China, approximately 32% of the reported deaths, with a mortality rate of 1.9‰, were associated with PM2.5 in 2013, in which deaths from cardiovascular, respiratory and lung-cancer causes accounted for 20% of the reported deaths, with a mortality rate of 1.2‰. The regional difference is remarkable for the mortalities and proportions of the different causes. If the PM2.5 concentration goals of the APPC plan, the first interim and the guideline targets of the WHO could be achieved, the PM2.5-related all-cause mortality would be reduced by 25%, 64% and 95%, respectively, compared with that of 2013. PM2.5 pollution in China has incurred great health risks that are even worse than those of tobacco smoking. The health benefits of the APPC plan could be outstanding, although there is still great potential to improve future air quality. [Display omitted] •Mortality effects of PM2.5 pollution in major cities of China were assessed.•A new set of exposure-response coefficients was obtained by meta-analysis.•About 32% of the reported total deaths were associated with PM2.5 in 2013.•Health risks of PM2.5 pollution in China maybe higher than that of smoking.•Health benefits of the ongoing air pollution control actions are outstanding.