Short-term exposure to ozone and cause-specific mortality risks and thresholds in China: Evidence from nationally representative data, 2013-2018

•Short-term associations of ozone and cause-specific mortality were estimated nationwide in China.•A spectrum of increased mortality risks for cardiopulmonary, neurological, and urinary diseases were found.•A potential safe threshold for the ozone-related mortality risk may be between 60 and 100 µg/m3.•North China had higher risk of ozone-related cardiovascular mortality.•South China had higher risk of ozone-related respiratory mortality.