Concentration-oriented vs. health-oriented strategies: future anthropogenic sectoral emission reductions for PM_2.5...

In the field of environmental governance and health protection, coordinated management of PM_2.5 and ozone has become a critical priority in China. Previous research primarily evaluated the synergistic benefits of mitigating anthropogenic sources based on concentration regulations. This study extends the analysis to health-oriented outcomes using WRF-Chem simulations of reduced emissions from five different anthropogenic sectors under the most stringent carbon neutrality pathway over eastern China, emphasizing that although achieving synergistic improvements in concentrations of PM_2.5 and ozone may be challenging in future, potential health benefits are substantial. Results show that emission reductions in industry, thermal power, residential, transportation, and agriculture sectors from 2018 to 2060 can lead to co-control of PM_2.5 and ozone air quality in 62%, 31%, 42%, 59%, and 41% of analyzed regions, respectively. Substantial health benefits are projected with reduced total short-term exposure premature deaths of 1329-40910 persons by various sectors, and the changes in PM_2.5-related risk dominate the improvement in health outcomes with contributions of 87%-121%. Compared with traditionally concentration-oriented results, health-oriented anthropogenic source abatement shows that up to twelve additional provinces can achieve coordinated improvement in PM_2.5-related and ozone-related health risks. For the dual control of concentration and health, it will be achieved in 52% of the analyzed provinces under the reduction in IND, followed by TRA (44%), AGR (41%), RES (19%), and POW (4%), respectively. All these imply that future clean air action based on public health intervention may achieve greater benefits at the same or potentially lower emission reduction cost.