Analyses of air pollution control measures and co-benefits in the heavily air-polluted Jinan city of China, 2013–2017

• Published in: Scientific reports 2020-03, Vol.10 (1), p.5423, Article 5423
• Main Authors: Cui, Liangliang, Zhou, Jingwen, Peng, Xiumiao, Ruan, Shiman, Zhang, Ying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 692/499; 704/172/4081; 704/844/843; Air pollution; Air pollution control; Air pollution measurements; Air quality; Economics; Emissions; Environmental policy; Exhaust emissions; Humanities and Social Sciences; Morbidity; Mortality; multidisciplinary; Outdoor air quality; Particulate matter; Pollution control; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sulfur dioxide
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62475-0

China has made great efforts in air pollution control since 2013. However, there is a lack of evaluation of environmental, health and economic co-benefits associated with the national and local air pollution control measures at a city level. We analyzed local air pollution control policies and implementation in Jinan, one of the most heavily air-polluted cities in China between 2013 and 2017. We assessed the changes in exhaust emissions, air quality, mortality and morbidity of associated specific-diseases, and related economic benefits. We also projected the future scenarios of PM 2.5 concentration dropped to 15 μg/m 3 . There were significant decreases in exhaust emissions of SO 2 and NO x in Jinan during the study period. Annual reductions in ambient air pollution were 72.6% for SO 2 , 43.1% for PM 2.5 , and 34.2% for PM 10 . A total of 2,317 (95%CI: 1,533–2,842) premature deaths and 15,822 (95%CI: 8,734–23,990) related morbidity cases had been avoided in 2017, leading to a total of US$ 317.7 million (95%CI: 227.5–458.1) in economic benefits. Decreasing PM 2.5 concentrations to 15 μg/m 3 would result in reductions of 70% in total PM 2.5 -related non-accidental mortality and 95% in total PM 2.5 -related morbidity, which translates into US$ 1,289.5 million (95%CI: 825.8–1,673.6) in economic benefits. The national and local air pollution control measures have brought significant environmental, health and economic benefits to a previously heavy polluted Chinese city.