Spatial-Temporal Evolution of Health Impact and Economic Loss upon Exposure to PM2.5 in China

Exposure to PM2.5 can seriously endanger public health. Policies for controlling PM2.5 need to consider health hazards under different circumstances. Unlike most studies on the concentration, distribution, and influencing factors of PM2.5, the present study focuses on the impact of PM2.5 on human health. We analysed the spatial-temporal evolution of health impact and economic loss caused by PM2.5 exposure using the log-linear exposure-response function and benefit transfer method. The results indicate that the number of people affected by PM2.5 pollution fluctuated and began to decline after reaching a peak in 2014, benefiting from the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan. Regarding the total economic loss, the temporal pattern continued to rise until 2014 and then declined, with an annual mean of 86,886.94 million USD, accounting for 1.71% of China's GDP. For the spatial pattern, the health impact and economic loss show a strong spatial correlation and remarkable polarisation phenomena, with high values in East China, North China, Central China, and South China, but low values in Southwest China, Northwest China, and Northeast China. The spatial-temporal characterisation of PM2.5 health hazards is visualised and analysed accordingly, which can provide a reference for more comprehensive and effective policy decisions.