Evaluating PM_2.5‐Related health costs in China—Evidence from 140 Chinese cities

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, China's economy has grown rapidly, and the health condition of Chinese residents has significantly improved. However, this rapid economic and social development has also brought a series of environmental problems, such as serious haze pollution, of which the main contents are PM 2.5 particles. The objective of this study is to quantitatively estimate the PM 2.5 -related health costs in China. Methods: Based on city-level data from 140 major Chinese cities as well as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta city clusters in 2010, the value of a statistical life method based on willingness to pay was employed. Moreover, global and local Moran's I values were calculated to examine the spatial distribution of the health cost of haze pollution in China.Results: In areas with heavy haze pollution or a high level of economic development, residents' health costs will also be higher. In addition, there is a spatial aggregation phenomenon in the spatial distribution of health costs in China, which is mainly in the form of "high-high" aggregation, with highvalue cities converging with other high-value cities. Conclusions:The health cost of haze pollution in China is very considerable, and there are regional differences.