Sustainable Urban Development: A Comprehensive Model for Assessing Health Risks from Compounded Pollution in Xi’an

Abstract

Global climate change and rapid urbanization have brought unprecedented environmental challenges, especially in rapidly expanding cities like Xi’an, posing potential challenges to sustainable development if not accompanied by adequate greenery, thoughtful layouts, and pollution control measures. The increasing frequency and intensity of urban air pollution (e.g., PM2.5, PM10, O3) and extreme climate events (e.g., heatwaves) have heightened health risks for residents. Existing studies mostly focus on single pollution or climate factors, neglecting the compounded effects of these factors. To fill this research gap, this study presents a health risk assessment model, specifically by analyzing the compounded effects of heatwaves and air pollution. By integrating hazard, exposure, and vulnerability factors using the entropy weight–TOPSIS method, the results reveal significant spatial differences in health risks across various regions of Xi’an. The findings provide valuable guidance for urban planners and policymakers to better address environmental hazards, reduce health risks, and promote sustainable urban development.