Residential greenness mitigates mortality risk from short-term airborne particulate exposure: An individual-level case-crossover study.

BACKGROUND:Studies suggested that greenness could reduce death risks related to ambient exposure to particulate matter (PM), while the available evidence was mixed across the globe and substantially exiguous in low- and middle-income countries. By conceiving an individual-level case-crossover study in central China, this analysis primarily aimed to quantify PM-mortality associations and examined the modification effect of greenness on the relationship. METHODS:We investigated a total of 177,058 nonaccidental death cases from 12 counties in central China, 2008-2012. Daily residential exposures to PM 2.5c102.5c10RESULTS:Mean concentrations (standard deviation) on the day of death were 73.8 (33.4) μg/m 32.53c31032.5c10CONCLUSIONS:Short-term exposure to particulate air pollution was associated with elevated risks of nonaccidental and circulatory death, and individuals residing in higher neighborhood greenness possessed lower risk of PM-related mortality. These findings emphasized the potential public health advantages through incorporating green spaces into urban design and planning.