Industrial water pollution, water environment treatment, and health risks in China

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 218; pp. 358 - 365
• Main Authors: Wang, Qing, Yang, Zhiming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2016
• Subjects: China; Chinese people; Environment; environmental law; Female; Health Status; human health; Humans; Industrial water pollution; Industry; logit analysis; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Mental health; Mental Health - statistics & numerical data; Middle Aged; Models, Theoretical; morbidity; mortality; pollutants; risk; Self-reported physical health; Treatment; Vulnerable Populations - statistics & numerical data; wastewater; water pollution; Water Pollution - adverse effects; Water Purification; water treatment; China, People's Rep; China; Self-reported physical health; Industrial water pollution; Treatment; China; Mental health
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.07.011

The negative health effects of water pollution remain a major source of morbidity and mortality in China. The Chinese government is making great efforts to strengthen water environment treatment; however, no studies have evaluated the effects of water treatment on human health by water pollution in China. This study evaluated the association between water pollution and health outcomes, and determined the extent to which environmental regulations on water pollution may lead to health benefits. Data were extracted from the 2011 and 2013 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Random effects model and random effects Logit model were applied to study the relationship between health and water pollution, while a Mediator model was used to estimate the effects of environmental water treatment on health outcomes by the intensity of water pollution. Unsurprisingly, water pollution was negatively associated with health outcomes, and the common pollutants in industrial wastewater had differential impacts on health outcomes. The effects were stronger for low-income respondents. Water environment treatment led to improved health outcomes among Chinese people. Reduced water pollution mediated the associations between water environment treatment and health outcomes. The results of this study offer compelling evidence to support treatment of water pollution in China. •Water pollution was negatively associated with mental and physical health in China.•The common pollutants in industrial wastewater had differential impacts on mental and physical health.•Water pollution more significantly affected mental and physical health among low-income people.•Water environment treatment led to improved health outcomes among Chinese people.