Effect of PM_2.5 pollution on perinatal mortality in China

Using ArcGIS to analyze satellite derived PM_2.5 estimates, this paper obtains the average concentration and maximum concentration of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in China's 31 provinces from 2002 to 2015. We adopt fixed effects model and spatial Durbin model to investigate the association between PM_2.5 and perinatal mortality rates. The results indicate that PM_2.5 has a significantly positive association with perinatal mortality rates. A 1% increase of log-transformed average concentration and maximum concentrations of PM_2.5 is associated with 1.76‰ and 2.31‰ increase of perinatal mortality rates, respectively. In spatial econometrics analysis, we find PM_2.5 has significant spatial autocorrelation characteristics. The concentrations of log-transformed average and maximum PM_2.5 increase 1% is associated with a 2.49% increase in a 2.49‰ and 2.19‰ increase of perinatal mortality rates, respectively. The potential mechanism is that air pollution has an impact on infant weight to impact perinatal mortality rates.