| Abstrakt: |
This 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. Plain Language Summary: A large body of epidemiological studies has verified that exposures to air pollution are associated with increased mortalities, However, most studies were carried out considering the city as a whole, and evidence of the intra‐city heterogeneity in air pollution‐mortality associations is limited. In this study, we explored the influence of urbanization levels on the spatial distribution of exposure‐response associations between PM2.5, O3, and mortality in Beijing, China. The results indicated significant spatial variations in PM2.5‐related mortality risks, which were lower in urban areas than in suburban areas. As the urbanization level decreased, the PM2.5‐related mortality risks in different districts increased. However, the O3‐related mortality risks were not significantly different. The spatial heterogeneity of air pollution‐related mortality reflects health disparities during urbanization. Our study reveals the need for precise and varied air pollution management policies that take into account the levels of urbanization within the areas of application. Key Points: PM2.5‐ and O3‐related mortality risks presented significant spatial heterogeneityUrbanization had effects on PM2.5, O3, and mortality associations in BeijingWith the decrease in urbanization level, mortality risks exhibited upward trends [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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