Avoided mortality by particulate air pollution control measures in China

作者：Aristeidis K. Georgoulias, Jos Lelieveld, Klaus Klingmüller, Dimitris Akritidis, Andrea Pozzer, Georgia Alexandri, Muhammad Bilal, Yafang Cheng, Hang Su, Prodromos Zanis · 发表于：The Science of The Total Environment · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180566 · 被引用次数：2 · 研究领域：Air Quality and Health Impacts

Since 2006, China has undertaken essential efforts to reverse the sharp atmospheric pollution increase, especially to reduce fine particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ). Using satellite observations, we developed a scenario-based method to quantify the PM 2.5 -related excess mortality avoided through air pollution control measures in China. By lowering PM 2.5 concentrations to 2018–2019 (pre-COVID-19) levels, Chinese authorities helped prevent approximately 655,000 excess deaths per year compared to moderate mitigation and 1.28 million compared to no mitigation. Within about a decade, Chinese policies prevented the annual loss of up to 19.2 million life-years and a life expectancy reduction of 1.2 years. Our results suggest that continued reductions in PM 2.5 at this pace over the next few decades could essentially diminish the health burden of air pollution. • We highlight China's progress in reducing PM 2.5 using satellite data • Decrease of PM 2.5 prevents about 0.66 up to 1.28 million excess deaths annually • The annual loss of up to 19.2 million life years is avoided • A population-mean life expectancy reduction of up to 1.2 years is avoided • Continued emission cuts could curb PM 2.5 health burden within the next two decades