Residents Face Severe Environmental Health Risks amid the Spiritual Happiness during the Spring Festival: An Evidence...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Cultural Studies

Background:

• Spring Festival traditions (incense, fireworks) cause severe air pollution.
• This creates a conflict between cultural preservation and environmental health risks in rural China.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the trade-off rural residents make between cultural practices and environmental health.
• To quantify air pollution levels and health impacts during the Spring Festival.

Main Methods:

• Conducted field measurements of indoor PM2.5 levels in a rural household.
• Surveyed 1035 residents across nine northern provinces on pollution exposure and health symptoms.

Main Results:

• Indoor PM2.5 levels exceeded 1000 μg/m³ on New Year's Eve.
• 38.7% reported adverse symptoms from outdoor pollution, 19.7% from indoor pollution.
• 81.8% of symptomatic individuals would tolerate pollution for cultural reasons.

Conclusions:

• Perceived cultural value often outweighs immediate health concerns for rural residents during festivals.
• Policymakers need strategies to balance public health with cultural heritage preservation.
• Interventions include promoting eco-friendly practices and subsidizing ventilation technologies.