Influence of Urbanization on the Spatial Distribution of Associations Between Air Pollution and Mortality in Beijing, China

Abstract

AbstractThis study investigated the influence of urbanization on the intra‐city spatial distribution of associations between air pollution and mortality in Beijing, China. First, we utilized the generalized additive model to establish the exposure‐response associations of PM2.5, O3, with nonaccidental and cardiorespiratory mortality between urban and suburban areas. Second, we assessed district‐specific air pollution‐related mortality and analyzed how these associations were affected by the degree of urbanization. Finally, we analyzed the changes in air pollution‐related mortality before and after the enforcement of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (referred to as the Action Plan). The effect estimates of PM2.5 for nonaccidental mortality were 0.20% (95% CI: 0.12–0.28) in urban areas and 0.46% (95% CI: 0.35–0.58) in suburban areas per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentrations. The corresponding estimates of O3 were 0.13% (95% CI: −0.04–0.29) in urban areas and 0.34% (95% CI: 0.12–0.56) in suburban areas per 10 μg/m3 increase in O3 concentrations; however, the difference between the estimates of O3 in urban and suburban areas was not statistically significant. The district‐specific results suggested that the estimated risks increased along with urban vulnerability levels for the effects of PM2.5. Implementing the Action Plan reduced the mortality risks of PM2.5, but the risks of O3 increased in some districts. However, the difference in the estimates between the pre‐ and post‐emission reductions was not statistically significant. Our study indicated that populations living in less urbanized areas are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of air pollution in Beijing, particularly for PM2.5.