Burden of disease attributed to ambient PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ exposure in 190 cities in China

Particulate air pollution is becoming a serious public health concern in urban cities of China. Association of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and economic loss with air pollution-related health effects demand quantitative analysis for correctional measures in air quality. This study applies an epidemiology-based exposure-response function to obtain the quantitative estimate of health impact of particulate matter PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ across 190 cities of China during years 2014-2015. The annual average concentration of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ is 57 ± 18 μg/m³ (ranging from 18 to 119 μg/m³) and 97.7 ± 34.2 μg/m³ (ranging from 33.5 to 252.8 μg/m³), respectively. Based on the present study, the total estimated annual premature mortality due to PM_2.5 is 722,370 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 322,716-987,519], 79% of which accounts for adult cerebrovascular disease (stroke) and ischemic heart disease (IHD). The premature mortality in megacities is very high, such as Chongqing (25,162/year), Beijing (19,702/year), Shanghai (19,617/year), Tianjin (13,726/year), and Chengdu (12,356/year). PM₁₀ pollution has caused 1,491,774 (95% CI = 972,770-1,960,303) premature deaths (age >30) in China. Further, 3,614,064 cases of chronic bronchitis (CB); 13,759,894 cases of asthma attack among all ages; 191,709 COPD-related hospital admission (HA) cases; 499,048 respiratory-related HA; 357,816 cerebrovascular HA; and 308,129 cardiovascular-related HA due to PM₁₀ pollution have been estimated during 2014-2015. Chongqing, Beijing, Baoding, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang are the top five contributors to pollution-related mortality, accounting for 3.10, 2.71, 2.49, 2.20, and 2.02%, respectively, of the total deaths caused by PM₁₀ pollution. The total DALYs associated with PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ pollution in China is 7.2 and 20.66 million in 2014-2015, and mortality and chronic bronchitis shared about 93.3% of the total DALYs for PM₁₀. During this period, the economic cost of health impact due to PM₁₀ is approximately US$304,122 million, which accounts for about 2.94% of China's gross domestic product (GDP). Megacities are expected to contribute relatively more to the total costs. The present methodology could be used as a tool to help policy makers and pollution control board authorities, to further analyze costs and benefits of air pollution management programs in China.