Comparative analysis of PM2.5 pollution risk in China using three-dimensional Archimedean copula method

Abstract

As one of the most vital pointers of the air quality, PM2.5 has a great influence on the sustainable development of the environment and economy in China. To evaluate the PM2.5 pollution risk (PPR), we considered the danger of the hazard (H), the exposure (E), and vulnerability (V) of the hazard-affected body from the modern disaster comprehensive risk perspective. We tried to introduce the three-dimensional Archimedean copula method to assess the PPR from the Eight Comprehensive Economic (ECE) zones to the whole region in China. The analysis results show that: (i) the PPR is monotone increasing with the H, E, and V; (ii) the H and V have more direct impact on the PPR than the E, and the three aspects need to be considered simultaneously in the risk assessment; (iii) although all regions can achieve the daily average concentration limit (H <35 µg/m3 ) except the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, it is difficult for the half of the ECE zones to maintain good air quality (H < 15 µg/m3) since the high probability risk.