Air Pollution in China: Mapping of Concentrations and Sources

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Atmospheric Chemistry

Background:

• China's recent release of hourly air pollution data from over 1500 sites provides unprecedented detail on airborne pollutants.
• Previous studies indicated high pollution in eastern China, but the spatial extent and population impact were not fully characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map air pollution distribution across China using recent hourly data.
• To assess the health burden and population exposure to air pollution in China.

Main Methods:

• Kriging interpolation applied to four months of hourly data on particulate matter (PM), SO2, NO2, and O3.
• Analysis of pollution levels relative to US EPA standards and population distribution.

Main Results:

• Significant air pollution is widespread across northern and central China, not confined to major cities.
• A pollution corridor identified from Shanghai to north of Beijing.
• 92% of China's population experienced unhealthy air for over 120 hours; 38% had unhealthy average concentrations.
• China's population-weighted average PM2.5 exposure was 52 μg/m3.
• Air pollution contributes to an estimated 1.6 million deaths annually in China (17% of all deaths).

Conclusions:

• Air pollution in China is extensive and affects a vast majority of the population.
• The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted air quality management strategies.
• Air pollution represents a major public health crisis in China, contributing significantly to mortality.