Analyses of air pollution control measures and co-benefits in the heavily air-polluted Jinan city of China, 2013–2017

Abstract

China has made great efforts in air pollution control since 2013. However, there is a lack of evaluation of environmental, health and economic co-benefits associated with the national and local air pollution control measures at a city level. We analyzed local air pollution control policies and implementation in Jinan, one of the most heavily air-polluted cities in China between 2013 and 2017. We assessed the changes in exhaust emissions, air quality, mortality and morbidity of associated specific-diseases, and related economic benefits. We also projected the future scenarios of PM 2.5 concentration dropped to 15 μg/m 3. There were significant decreases in exhaust emissions of SO 2 and no x in Jinan during the study period. Annual reductions in ambient air pollution were 72.6% for SO 2 , 43.1% for PM 2.5 , and 34.2% for PM 10. A total of 2,317 (95%CI: 1,533-2,842) premature deaths and 15,822 (95%CI: 8,734-23,990) related morbidity cases had been avoided in 2017, leading to a total of US$ 317.7 million (95%CI: 227.5-458.1) in economic benefits. Decreasing PM 2.5 concentrations to 15 μg/m 3 would result in reductions of 70% in total PM 2.5-related non-accidental mortality and 95% in total PM 2.5-related morbidity, which translates into US$ 1,289.5 million (95%CI: 825.8-1,673.6) in economic benefits. The national and local air pollution control measures have brought significant environmental, health and economic benefits to a previously heavy polluted Chinese city. Air pollution is a major global health concern, especially in developing countries like China. In January 2013, a severe air pollution event affected one-third of the major cities in China 1. Since then, air pollution, especially the risks from PM 2.5 (particle matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm), has become a growing concern in China 2,3. Spatial and temporal distributions of air quality in China show that winter months in northern cities are the most polluted because of coal burning and other fossil fuel combustion for heating 4-7. Scientific studies have provided strong evidence on the effects of PM 2.5 on mortality and morbidity, and for both short-term and long-term exposures 8,9. In May 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 4.2 million deaths occur annually as a result of exposure to ambient air pollution globally with developing countries having the highest burden 10. The first WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health held in November 2018 emphasized an aspirational goal of reducing the number of deaths from air pollution by two-thirds by 2030 and the urgent need for bold and prompt actions to address the present health crisis caused by air pollution 11. In order to improve air quality and to protect human health, the Chinese government has implemented a series of national policies to reduce the emissions of air pollutants after the 2013 national severe air pollution event 4,12. In September 2013, the State Council of China issued the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP), which comprises ten spe...

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