[Simulation study of air quality health index in 5 cities in China: 2013-2015]

Objective: To construct the air quality health index (AQHI) by inclusion of air pollutants PM(2.5) and O(3) in Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xi' an, Beijing, Shenyang, and explore scientificity and feasibility of its application in China. Methods: The daily average concentrations of PM(2.5) and O(3) in air, and daily average mortality from 2013 to 2015 in the 5 cities in China, the exposure-response coefficients of PM(2.5) and O(3) and total mortality from Meta studies in China were used to construct local AQHI. The health risk levels of air pollution in the 5 cities were calculated and compared with the characteristics of single pollutant concentrationof PM(2.5) or O(3). Results: In the 5 cities, the average concentration of PM(2.5) was highest in Beijing (82 μg/m(3)) and lowest in Guangzhou (46 μg/m(3)). And the average concentration of O(3) was highest in Shanghai (72 μg/m(3)) and lowest in Xi' an (45 μg/m(3)). In all the cities, the average concentration of PM(2.5) was highest in winter and lowest in summer. In summer, the average concentration of O(3) was lowest. But the health risk level of AQHI showed that the 5 cities had higher frequency of low or medium risk averagely. And Beijing had the highest frequency of high risk in summer (5.69%). Xi' an had the highest frequency of extremely high risk in winter (1.63%). Conclusions: In this study, AQHI could be constructed by using air PM(2.5) and O(3) concentration data which can be obtained in many areas in China. The application of this index is scientific and feasible in China.