Risks and Causes of Population Exposure to Cumulative Fine Particulate (PM2.5) Pollution in China

Abstract

China's policy on atmospheric pollution is changeable in recent years. The single-year estimated population exposure to air pollution is widely used in China where has the largest population and the heaviest fine particulate (PM2.5) pollution worldwide. However, the single-year estimate introduces considerable uncertainty and loses consideration on multiyear cumulative exposure, thus may underestimate the burden of disease and mislead decisions regarding environmental conservation. We thus estimate the cumulative population exposure to PM2.5 pollution from 2000 to 2015. Areas with PM2.5 > 35 μg/m3 within China's territory increased from an average of 39% (2000–2005) to 42% (2006–2015), causing 471.6 million population at 58.8 × 104 km2 were exposed to 16 years' cumulative exposure to PM2.5 > 35 μg/m3. The migrant population contributed a major proportion of the increased population exposure, especially in East China's rapidly urbanizing areas. Cumulative population exposure to air pollution would provide a better understanding on the long-term health risk and may suggest to a long, stable, and effective environmental protection regulation and policy should be carried out in China.