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Published on: October 16, 2018
Tracking industrial relocation and air pollution redistribution in China: a multi-dimensional satellite-based
Han Zhou1, Jun Qiu2, Dongfang Liang3
1State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Agricultural Water Resources, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China; College of Water Resources & Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
Environment International
|May 22, 2026
Summary
China
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science and Policy
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics
- Spatial Analysis and Remote Sensing
Background:
- Conventional Air Quality Index (AQI) systems in China rely on single pollutants, inadequately addressing cumulative exposure and multi-pollutant health risks.
- Understanding large-scale air quality changes is crucial for identifying industrial relocation and environmental transformation patterns.
- Existing frameworks lack the integration needed to link air quality dynamics with economic activity and environmental indicators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an integrated assessment framework for evaluating multidimensional air quality.
- To construct novel indices (TAQI, PAQI, EAQI, VAQI, FAQI, ITI) for assessing pollutant load, toxicity, governance, and industrial transfer.
- To analyze spatial patterns of air quality redistribution and potential industrial relocation in China from 2015-2019.
Main Methods:
- Development of a multidimensional air quality evaluation system including Total Atmospheric Quality Index (TAQI), Potential Atmospheric Quality Index (PAQI), and Effective Atmospheric Quality Index (EAQI).
- Integration of air quality data with vegetation greenness (NDVI) and economic activity (GDP) to create Vegetation-Air Quality Index (VAQI), Financial-Air Quality Index (FAQI), and Industrial Transfer Intensity (ITI).
- Meteorological background comparability analysis using ERA5 data and validation of ITI with satellite-based indicators (VIIRS nighttime light, Proba-V built-up expansion).
Main Results:
- National total pollutant load (TAQI) decreased by 16.3% and toxicity-weighted hazard intensity (PAQI) by 32.2% between 2015-2019.
- Signals of industrial relocation intensified in northwestern and southwestern China.
- The derived Industrial Transfer Intensity (ITI) showed strong spatial correlation with satellite-derived anthropogenic activity indicators (VIIRS: r=0.68; Proba-V: r=0.73).
Conclusions:
- The proposed framework offers a transferable, satellite-supported method for identifying pollution redistribution and industrial relocation hotspots.
- Findings provide policy-relevant evidence for differentiated air quality governance and sustainable industrial transitions.
- The study highlights the need for integrated approaches to manage air quality and economic development in rapidly evolving economies.
Keywords:
Air pollution redistributionIndustrial relocationMulti-pollutant assessmentSustainable transitionTAQI–PAQI–EAQI frameworkVegetation–economy coupling
