Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Health impacts of air pollution in China

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The health effects of air pollution have attracted considerable attention in China. In this review, the status of air pollution in China is briefly presented. The impacts of air pollution on the health of the respiratory system, the circulatory system, the nervous system, the digestive system, the urinary system, pregnancy and life expectancy are highlighted. Additionally, China’s actions to control air pollution and their effects are briefly introduced. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of the health effects of air pollution are provided. We believe that this review will provide a promising perspective on the health impacts of air pollution in China, and further elicit more attention from governments and researchers worldwide.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boudier H A J S, Lenoble J L M L, Messing M W J, Huijberts M S P, Lenoble F A C, Vanessen H (1992). The microcirculation and hypertension. Journal of Hypertension, 10: S147–S156

    Google Scholar 

  • Buist A S, McBurnie M A, Vollmer W M, Gillespie S, Burney P, Mannino D M, Menezes A M B, Sullivan S D, Lee T A, Weiss K B, Jensen R L, Marks G B, Gulsvik A, Nizankowska-Mogilnicka E (2007). International variation in the prevalence of COPD (The BOLD Study): A population-based prevalence study. Lancet, 370(9589): 741–750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chai G, He H, Sha Y, Zhai G, Zong S (2019). Effect of PM2.5 on daily outpatient visits for respiratory diseases in Lanzhou, China. Science of the Total Environment, 649: 1563–1572

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang Y K, Wu C C, Lee L T, Lin R S, Yu Y H, Chen Y C (2012). The short-term effects of air pollution on adolescent lung function in Taiwan. Chemosphere, 87(1): 26–30

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen C, Li C, Li Y, Liu J, Meng C, Han J, Zhang Y, Xu D (2018a). Short-term effects of ambient air pollution exposure on lung function: A longitudinal study among healthy primary school children in China. Science of the Total Environment, 645: 1014–1020

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen C, Liu C, Chen R, Wang W, Li W, Kan H, Fu C (2018b). Ambient air pollution and daily hospital admissions for mental disorders in Shanghai, China. Science of the Total Environment, 613–614: 324–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen C C, Chen P S, Yang C Y (2019a). Relationship between fine particulate air pollution exposure and human adult life expectancy in Taiwan. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A., 82(14): 826–832

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G, Xiang H, Mao Z, Huo W, Guo Y, Wang C, Li S (2019b). Is long-term exposure to air pollution associated with poor sleep quality in rural China? Environment International, 133: 105205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G, Zhang W, Li S, Williams G, Liu C, Morgan G G, Jaakkola J J K, Guo Y (2017a). Is short-term exposure to ambient fine particles associated with measles incidence in China? A multi-city study. Environmental Research, 156: 306–311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G, Zhang Y, Zhang W, Li S, Williams G, Marks G B, Jalaludin B, Abramson M J, Luo F, Yang D, Su X, Lin Q, Liu L, Lin J, Guo Y (2017b). Attributable risks of emergency hospital visits due to air pollutants in China: A multi-city study. Environmental Pollution, 228: 43–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen L, Hu G, Fan R, Lv Y, Dai Y, Xu Z (2018c). Association of PAHs and BTEX exposure with lung function and respiratory symptoms among a nonoccupational population near the coal chemical industry in Northern China. Environment International, 120: 480–488

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen S Y, Chu D C, Lee J H, Yang Y R, Chan C C (2018d). Traffic-related air pollution associated with chronic kidney disease among elderly residents in Taipei City. Environmental Pollution, 234: 838–845

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cui L, Zhou J, Peng X, Ruan S, Zhang Y (2020). Analyses of air pollution control measures and co-benefits in the heavily air-polluted Jinan city of China, 2013–2017. Scientific Reports, 10(1): 5423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan J, Cheng Q, Luo X, Bai L, Zhang H, Wang S, Xu Z, Gao J, Zhang Y, Su H (2018). Is the serious ambient air pollution associated with increased admissions for schizophrenia? Science of the Total Environment, 644: 14–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duan R R, Hao K, Yang T (2020). Air pollution and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chronic Diseases and Translational Medicine, online doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cdtm.2020.05.004

  • Duan R, Tian Y, Hu Y, Duan L (2019). Exploring the association between short-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter pollution and emergency admissions for peptic ulcer bleeding in Beijing, China. Atmospheric Environment, 213: 485–490

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ebenstein A, Fan M, Greenstone M, He G, Zhou M (2017). New evidence on the impact of sustained exposure to air pollution on life expectancy from China’s Huai River Policy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(39): 10384–10389

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fan B, Wang T, Wang W, Zhang S, Gong M, Li W, Lu C, Guo L (2019). Long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate pollution, sleep disturbance and their interaction effects on suicide attempts among Chinese adolescents. Journal of Affective Disorders, 258: 89–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fan H, Zhao C, Yang Y (2020a). A comprehensive analysis of the spatiotemporal variation of urban air pollution in China during 2014–2018. Atmospheric Environment, 220: 117066

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fan Y, Ding X, Hang J, Ge J (2020b). Characteristics of urban air pollution in different regions of China between 2015 and 2019. Building and Environment, 180: 107048

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng Y, Ning M, Lei Y, Sun Y, Liu W, Wang J (2019). Defending blue sky in China: Effectiveness of the “Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan” on air quality improvements from 2013 to 2017. Journal of Environmental Management, 252: 109603

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu Q, Mo Z, Lyu D, Zhang L, Qin Z, Tang Q, Yin H, Xu P, Wu L, Lou X, Chen Z, Yao K (2017). Air pollution and outpatient visits for conjunctivitis: A case-crossover study in Hangzhou, China. Environmental Pollution, 231: 1344–1350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao N, Xu W, Ji J, Yang Y, Wang S T, Wang J, Chen X, Meng S, Tian X, Xu K F (2020). Lung function and systemic inflammation associated with short-term air pollution exposure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in Beijing, China. Environmental Health, 19(1): 12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Chan E Y, Li L, Lau P W, Wong T W (2014). Chronic effects of ambient air pollution on respiratory morbidities among Chinese children: A cross-sectional study in Hong Kong. BMC Public Health, 14(1): 105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Chan E Y, Li L P, He Q Q, Wong T W (2013). Chronic effects of ambient air pollution on lung function among Chinese children. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 98(2): 128–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González-Díaz S N, Arias-Cruz A, Macouzet-Sánchez C, Partida-Ortega A B (2016). Impact of air pollution in respiratory allergic diseases. Medicina Universitaria, 18(73): 212–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan W J, Zheng X Y, Chung K F, Zhong N S (2016). Impact of air pollution on the burden of chronic respiratory diseases in China: time for urgent action. Lancet, 388(10054): 1939–1951

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo C, Zhang Z, Lau A K H, Lin C Q, Chuang Y C, Chan J, Jiang W K, Tam T, Yeoh E K, Chan T C, Chang L Y, Lao X Q (2018a). Effect of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter on lung function decline and risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Taiwan: A longitudinal, cohort study. Lancet. Planetary Health, 2(3): e114–e125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo P, Feng W, Zheng M, Lv J, Wang L, Liu J, Zhang Y, Luo G, Zhang Y, Deng C, Shi T, Liu P, Zhang L (2018b). Short-term associations of ambient air pollution and cause-specific emergency department visits in Guangzhou, China. Science of the Total Environment, 613–614: 306–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han Y, Jiang P, Dong T, Ding X, Chen T, Villanger G D, Aase H, Huang L, Xia Y (2018). Maternal air pollution exposure and preterm birth in Wuxi, China: Effect modification by maternal age. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 157: 457–462

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He T, Yang Z, Liu T, Shen Y, Fu X, Qian X, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Xu Z, Zhu S, Mao C, Xu G, Tang J (2016). Ambient air pollution and years of life lost in Ningbo, China. Scientific Reports, 6(1): 22485

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heyes A, Zhu M (2019). Air pollution as a cause of sleeplessness: Social media evidence from a panel of Chinese cities. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 98: 102247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hou D, Ge Y, Chen C, Tan Q, Chen R, Yang Y, Li L, Wang J, Ye M, Li C, Meng X, Kan H, Cai J, Song Y (2020). Associations of long-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide with lung function: A cross-sectional study in China. Environment International, 144: 105977

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang J, Pan X, Guo X, Li G (2018). Health impact of China’s Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan: an analysis of national air quality monitoring and mortality data. Lancet. Planetary Health, 2(7): e313–e323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ji X, Meng X, Liu C, Chen R, Ge Y, Kan L, Fu Q, Li W, Tse L A, Kan H (2019). Nitrogen dioxide air pollution and preterm birth in Shanghai, China. Environmental Research, 169: 79–85

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jin Y, Andersson H, Zhang S (2016). Air Pollution Control Policies in China: A Retrospective and Prospects. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(12): 1219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jung C R, Lin Y T, Hwang B F (2015). Ozone, particulate matter, and newly diagnosed Alzheimer’s Disease: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 44(2): 573–584

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karimi B, Shokrinezhad B, Samadi S (2019). Mortality and hospitalizations due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases associated with air pollution in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Atmospheric Environment, 198: 438–447

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim Y, Choi Y H, Kim M K, Paik H J, Kim D H (2020). Different adverse effects of air pollutants on dry eye disease: Ozone, PM2.5, and PM10. Environmental Pollution, 265: 115039

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuang H, Liu J, Zeng Y, Zhou W, Wu P, Tan J, Li Y, Pang Q, Jiang W, Fan R (2020). Co-exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene and toluene may impair lung function by increasing oxidative damage and airway inflammation in asthmatic children. Environmental Pollution, 266: 115220

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar P, Druckman A, Gallagher J, Gatersleben B, Allison S, Eisenman T S, Hoang U, Hama S, Tiwari A, Sharma A, Abhijith K V, Adlakha D, McNabola A, Astell-Burt T, Feng X, Skeldon A C, de Lusignan S, Morawska L (2019). The nexus between air pollution, green infrastructure and human health. Environment International, 133: 105181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee P C, Liu L L, Sun Y, Chen Y A, Liu C C, Li C Y, Yu H L, Ritz B (2016). Traffic-related air pollution increased the risk of Parkinson’s disease in Taiwan: A nationwide study. Environment International, 96: 75–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levy B I, Ambrosio G, Pries A R, Struijker-Boudier H A (2001). Microcirculation in hypertension: A new target for treatment? Circulation, 104(6): 735–740

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li N, Chen G, Liu F, Mao S, Liu Y, Hou Y, Lu Y, Liu S, Wang C, Xiang H, Guo Y, Li S (2019a). Associations of long-term exposure to ambient PM1 with hypertension and blood pressure in rural Chinese population: The Henan rural cohort study. Environment International, 128: 95–102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li N, Chen G, Liu F, Mao S, Liu Y, Liu S, Mao Z, Lu Y, Wang C, Guo Y, Xiang H, Li S (2020). Associations between long-term exposure to air pollution and blood pressure and effect modifications by behavioral factors. Environmental Research, 182: 109109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y R, Xiao C C, Li J, Tang J, Geng X Y, Cui L J, Zhai J X (2018). Association between air pollution and upper respiratory tract infection in hospital outpatients aged 0–14 years in Hefei, China: A time series study. Public Health, 156: 92–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Mao X, Liu Q, Song H, Ji Y, Xu D, Qiu B, Tian D, Wang J (2019b). Long-term effect of exposure to ambient air pollution on the risk of active tuberculosis. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 87: 177–184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin H, Liang Z, Liu T, Di Q, Qian Z, Zeng W, Xiao J, Li X, Guo L, Ma W, Zhao Q (2015). Association between exposure to ambient air pollution before conception date and likelihood of giving birth to girls in Guangzhou, China. Atmospheric Environment, 122: 622–627

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin H, Wang X, Liu T, Li X, Xiao J, Zeng W, Ma W (2017). Air Pollution and Mortality in China. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 1017: 103–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Chen R, Zhao Y, Ma Z, Bi J, Liu Y, Meng X, Wang Y, Chen X, Li W, Kan H (2017a). Associations between ambient fine particulate air pollution and hypertension: A nationwide cross-sectional study in China. Science of the Total Environment, 584–585: 869–874

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Yang C, Zhao Y, Ma Z, Bi J, Liu Y, Meng X, Wang Y, Cai J, Kan H, Chen R (2016a). Associations between long-term exposure to ambient particulate air pollution and type 2 diabetes prevalence, blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels in China. Environment International, 92–93: 416–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Liao J, Jiang Y, Zhang B, Yu H, Kang J, Hu C, Li Y, Xu S (2019). Maternal exposure to fine particulate matter and the risk of fetal distress. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 170: 253–258

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Ruan Y, Wu Q, Ma Y, He X, Li L, Li S, Niu J, Luo B (2020). Has the mortality risk declined after the improvement of air quality in an ex-heavily polluted Chinese city-Lanzhou? Chemosphere, 242: 125196

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Zhou Y, Liu S, Chen X, Zou W, Zhao D, Li X, Pu J, Huang L, Chen J, Li B, Liu S, Ran P (2017b). Association between exposure to ambient particulate matter and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: results from a cross-sectional study in China. Thorax, 72(9): 788–795

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu W, Huang C, Hu Y, Fu Q, Zou Z, Sun C, Shen L, Wang X, Cai J, Pan J, Huang Y, Chang J, Sun Y, Sundell J (2016b). Associations of gestational and early life exposures to ambient air pollution with childhood respiratory diseases in Shanghai, China: A retrospective cohort study. Environment International, 92–93: 284–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu W, Xu Z, Yang T (2018). Health effects of air pollution in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15: 1471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Xie S, Yu Q, Huo X, Ming X, Wang J, Zhou Y, Peng Z, Zhang H, Cui X, Xiang H, Huang X, Zhou T, Chen W, Shi T (2017c). Short-term effects of ambient air pollution on pediatric outpatient visits for respiratory diseases in Yichang city, China. Environmental Pollution, 227: 116–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Louwies T, Nawrot T, Cox B, Dons E, Penders J, Provost E, Panis L I, De Boever P (2015). Blood pressure changes in association with black carbon exposure in a panel of healthy adults are independent of retinal microcirculation. Environment International, 75: 81–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu C, Zhang W, Zheng X, Sun J, Chen L, Deng Q (2020). Combined effects of ambient air pollution and home environmental factors on low birth weight. Chemosphere, 240: 124836

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu P, Zhang Y, Xia G, Zhang W, Li S, Guo Y (2019a). Short-term exposure to air pollution and conjunctivitis outpatient visits: A multicity study in China. Environmental Pollution, 254: 113030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu Z, Huang L, Liu J, Zhou Y, Chen M, Hu J (2019b). Carbon dioxide mitigation co-benefit analysis of energy-related measures in the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan in the Jing-Jin-Ji region of China. Resources, Conservation & Recycling: X 1: 100006

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma W L, Zhu F J, Liu L Y, Jia H L, Yang M, Li Y F (2020). PAHs in Chinese atmosphere Part II: Health risk assessment. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 200: 110774

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma Y, Yang S, Yu Z, Jiao H, Zhang Y, Ma B (2019). A study on the short-term impact of fine particulate matter pollution on the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in Beijing, China. Atmospheric Environment, 215: 116889

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miao Z, Baležentis T, Shao S, Chang D (2019). Energy use, industrial soot and vehicle exhaust pollution-China’s regional air pollution recognition, performance decomposition and governance. Energy Economics, 83: 501–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller M R (2020). Oxidative stress and the cardiovascular effects of air pollution. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 151: 69–87

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mo Z, Fu Q, Lyu D, Zhang L, Qin Z, Tang Q, Yin H, Xu P, Wu L, Wang X, Lou X, Chen Z, Yao K (2019). Impacts of air pollution on dry eye disease among residents in Hangzhou, China: A case-crossover study. Environmental Pollution, 246: 183–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niu Y, Chen R, Kan H (2017). Air pollution, disease burden, and health economic loss in China. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 1017: 233–242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phosri A, Ueda K, Phung V L H, Tawatsupa B, Honda A, Takano H (2019). Effects of ambient air pollution on daily hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Bangkok, Thailand. Science of the Total Environment, 651: 1144–1153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Popovic I, Soares Magalhaes R J, Ge E, Marks G B, Dong G H, Wei X, Knibbs L D (2019). A systematic literature review and critical appraisal of epidemiological studies on outdoor air pollution and tuberculosis outcomes. Environmental Research, 170: 33–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu H, Zhu X, Wang L, Pan J, Pu X, Zeng X, Zhang L, Peng Z, Zhou L (2019). Attributable risk of hospital admissions for overall and specific mental disorders due to particulate matter pollution: A time-series study in Chengdu, China. Environmental Research, 170: 230–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruan Z, Qian Z, Guo Y, Zhou J, Yang Y, Acharya B K, Guo S, Zheng Y, Cummings-Vaughn L A, Rigdon S E, Vaughn M G, Chen X, Wu F, Lin H (2019). Ambient fine particulate matter and ozone higher than certain thresholds associated with myopia in the elderly aged 50 years and above. Environmental Research, 177: 108581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sáenz-de-Miera O, Rosselló J (2013). Tropospheric ozone, air pollution and tourism: a case study of Mallorca. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 21(8): 1232–1243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shou Y, Huang Y, Zhu X, Liu C, Hu Y, Wang H (2019). A review of the possible associations between ambient PM2.5 exposures and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 174: 344–352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song C, Wu L, Xie Y, He J, Chen X, Wang T, Lin Y, Jin T, Wang A, Liu Y, Dai Q, Liu B, Wang Y, Mao H (2017). Air pollution in China: Status and spatiotemporal variations. Environmental Pollution, 227: 334–347

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song J, Liu Y, Lu M, An Z, Lu J, Chao L, Zheng L, Li J, Yao S, Wu W, Xu D (2019). Short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide pollution and the risk of eye and adnexa diseases in Xinxiang, China. Atmospheric Environment, 218: 117001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song J, Liu Y, Zheng L, Gui L, Zhao X, Xu D, Wu W (2018a). Acute effects of air pollution on type II diabetes mellitus hospitalization in Shijiazhuang, China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 25(30): 30151–30159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Song J, Zheng L, Lu M, Gui L, Xu D, Wu W, Liu Y (2018b). Acute effects of ambient particulate matter pollution on hospital admissions for mental and behavioral disorders: A time-series study in Shijiazhuang, China. Science of the Total Environment, 636: 205–211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sun S, Tian L, Cao W, Lai P C, Wong P P Y, Lee R S y, Mason T G, Krämer A, Wong C M (2019). Urban climate modified short-term association of air pollution with pneumonia mortality in Hong Kong. Science of the Total Environment, 646: 618–624

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang M, Li D, Liew Z, Wei F, Wang J, Jin M, Chen K, Ritz B (2019). The association of short-term effects of air pollution and sleep disorders among elderly residents in China. Science of the Total Environment, 708: 134846

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tao Y, Mi S, Zhou S, Wang S, Xie X (2014). Air pollution and hospital admissions for respiratory diseases in Lanzhou, China. Environmental Pollution, 185: 196–201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tian L, Qiu H, Sun S, Tsang H, Chan K P, Leung W K (2017). Association between emergency admission for peptic ulcer bleeding and air pollution: A case-crossover analysis in Hong Kong’s elderly population. Lancet. Planetary Health, 1(2): e74–e81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang C, Feng L, Chen K (2019a). The impact of ambient particulate matter on hospital outpatient visits for respiratory and circulatory system disease in an urban Chinese population. Science of the Total Environment, 666: 672–679

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H H, Zhang S C, Wang J, Chen X, Yin H, Huang D Y (2020a). Combined toxicity of outdoor air pollution on kidney function among adult women in Mianyang City, southwest China. Chemosphere, 238: 124603

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Cao H, Sun D, Qi Z, Guo C, Peng W, Sun Y, Xie Y, Liu X, Li B, Luo Y, Pan Y, Li Y, Zhang L (2019b). Associations between ambient air pollution and mortality from all causes, pneumonia, and congenital heart diseases among children aged under 5 years in Beijing, China: A population-based time series study. Environmental Research, 176: 108531

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang N, Mengersen K, Tong S, Kimlin M, Zhou M, Wang L, Yin P, Xu Z, Cheng J, Zhang Y, Hu W (2019c). Short-term association between ambient air pollution and lung cancer mortality. Environmental Research, 179: 108748

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang R, Yang B, Yao Y, Bloom M S, Feng Z, Yuan Y, Zhang J, Liu P, Wu W, Lu Y, Baranyi G, Wu R, Liu Y, Dong G (2019d). Residential greenness, air pollution and psychological well-being among urban residents in Guangzhou, China. Science of the Total Environment, 711: 134843

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang R, Yang B, Yao Y, Bloom M S, Feng Z, Yuan Y, Zhang J, Liu P, Wu W, Lu Y, Baranyi G, Wu R, Liu Y, Dong G (2020b). Residential greenness, air pollution and psychological well-being among urban residents in Guangzhou, China. Science of the Total Environment, 711: 134843

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Wang W, Jiao S, Yuan J, Hu C, Wang L (2018a). The effects of air pollution on daily cardiovascular diseases hospital admissions in Wuhan from 2013 to 2015. Atmospheric Environment, 182: 307–312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Zhang L, Yao Z, Ai S, Qian Z, Wang H, BeLue R, Liu T, Xiao J, Li X, Zeng W, Ma W, Lin H (2018b). Ambient coarse particulate pollution and mortality in three Chinese cities: Association and attributable mortality burden. Science of the Total Environment, 628–629: 1037–1042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei C C, Lin H J, Lim Y P, Chen C S, Chang C Y, Lin C J, Chen J J Y, Tien P T, Lin C L, Wan L (2019a). PM2.5 and NOx exposure promote myopia: Clinical evidence and experimental proof. Environmental Pollution, 254: 113031

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei Q, Wu J, Zhang Y, Cheng Q, Bai L, Duan J, Gao J, Xu Z, Yi W, Pan R, Su H (2019b). Short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide and the risk of childhood hand, foot, and mouth disease during different seasons in Hefei, China. Science of the Total Environment, 658: 116–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y, Wang W, Liu C, Chen R, Kan H (2020). The association between long-term fine particulate air pollution and life expectancy in China, 2013 to 2017. Science of the Total Environment, 712: 136507

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Y C, Lin Y C, Yu H L, Chen J H, Chen T F, Sun Y, Wen L L, Yip P K, Chu Y M, Chen Y C (2015). Association between air pollutants and dementia risk in the elderly. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, 1(2): 220–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Xia Y, Liu X, Wu D, Xiong H, Ren L, Xu L, Wu W, Zhang H (2017). Influence of beat-to-beat blood pressure variability on vascular elasticity in hypertensive population. Scientific Reports, 7(1): 8394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xue T, Liu J, Zhang Q, Geng G, Zheng Y, Tong D, Liu Z, Guan D, Bo Y, Zhu T, He K, Hao J (2019). Rapid improvement of PM2.5 pollution and associated health benefits in China during 2013–2017. Science China. Earth Sciences, 62(12): 1847–1856

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan D, Wu S, Zhou S, Tong G, Li F, Wang Y, Li B (2019). Characteristics, sources and health risk assessment of airborne particulate PAHs in Chinese cities: A review. Environmental Pollution, 248: 804–814

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang B Y, Fan S, Thiering E, Seissler J, Nowak D, Dong G H, Heinrich J (2020a). Ambient air pollution and diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Environmental Research, 180: 108817

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang B Y, Qian Z, Li S, Chen G, Bloom M S, Elliott M, Syberg K W, Heinrich J, Markevych I, Wang S Q, Chen D, Ma H, Chen D H, Liu Y, Komppula M, Leskinen A, Liu K K, Zeng X W, Hu L W, Guo Y, Dong G H (2018). Ambient air pollution in relation to diabetes and glucose-homoeostasis markers in China: A cross-sectional study with findings from the 33 Communities Chinese Health Study. Lancet. Planetary Health, 2(2): e64–e73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang J, Kang S, Ji Z, Yin X, Tripathee L (2020b). Investigating air pollutant concentrations, impact factors, and emission control strategies in western China by using a regional climate-chemistry model. Chemosphere, 246: 125767

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang J, Zhou M, Zhang F, Yin P, Wang B, Guo Y, Tong S, Wang H, Zhang C, Sun Q, Song X, Liu Q (2020c). Diabetes mortality burden attributable to short-term effect of PM10 in China. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 27(15): 18784–18792

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu F, Ma G, Zhang Y, Cao D, Gao F, Jinnan W (2013). Review on studies of environmental impact on health from air pollution in China. National Medical Journal of China, 93: 2695–2698

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu Y, Yao S, Dong H, Wang L, Wang C, Ji X, Ji M, Yao X, Zhang Z (2019). Association between short-term exposure to particulate matter air pollution and cause-specific mortality in Changzhou, China. Environmental Research, 170: 7–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng J, Liu T, Feiock R, Li F (2019a). The impacts of China’s provincial energy policies on major air pollutants: A spatial econometric analysis. Energy Policy, 132: 392–403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng X W, Vivian E, Mohammed K A., Jakhar S, Vaughn M, Huang J, Zelicoff A, Xaverius P, Bai Z, Lin S, Hao Y T, Paul G, Morawska L, Wang S Q, Qian Z, Dong G H (2016). Long-term ambient air pollution and lung function impairment in Chinese children from a high air pollution range area: The Seven Northeastern Cities (SNEC) study. Atmospheric Environment, 138: 144–151

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng Y, Cao Y, Qiao X, Seyler B C, Tang Y (2019b). Air pollution reduction in China: Recent success but great challenge for the future. Science of the Total Environment, 663: 329–337

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng Y, Gu D, Purser J, Hoenig H, Christakis N (2010). Associations of environmental factors with elderly health and mortality in China. American Journal of Public Health, 100(2): 298–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Ding R, Xiao C, Xu Y, Cheng H, Zhu F, Lei R, Di D, Zhao Q, Cao J (2017). Association between air pollution and cardiovascular mortality in Hefei, China: A time-series analysis. Environmental Pollution, 229: 790–797

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Chen Q, Wang Q, Ding Z, Sun H, Xu Y (2019a). The acute health effects of ozone and PM2.5 on daily cardiovascular disease mortality: A multi-center time series study in China. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 174: 218–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Mauzerall D L, Zhu T, Liang S, Ezzati M, Remais J V (2010). Environmental health in China: progress towards clean air and safe water. Lancet, 375(9720): 1110–1119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang X, Chen X, Zhang X (2018). The impact of exposure to air pollution on cognitive performance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115(37): 9193–9197

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Ding Z, Xiang Q, Wang W, Huang L, Mao F (2019b). Short-term effects of ambient PM1 and PM2.5 air pollution on hospital admission for respiratory diseases: Case-crossover evidence from Shenzhen, China. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 224: 113418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Ni H, Bai L, Cheng Q, Zhang H, Wang S, Xie M, Zhao D, Su H (2019c). The short-term association between air pollution and childhood asthma hospital admissions in urban areas of Hefei City in China: A time-series study. Environmental Research, 169: 510–516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao J, Zhang B, Yang S, Mei H, Qian Z, Liang S, Zhang Y, Hu K, Tan Y, Xian H, Belue R, Jordan S S, Xu S, Zheng T, Du Y (2018). Maternal exposure to ambient air pollutant and risk of oral clefts in Wuhan, China. Environmental Pollution, 238: 624–630

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao Y, Hu J, Tan Z, Liu T, Zeng W, Li X, Huang C, Wang S, Huang Z, Ma W (2019). Ambient carbon monoxide and increased risk of daily hospital outpatient visits for respiratory diseases in Dongguan, China. Science of the Total Environment, 668: 254–260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng L, Ou J, Liu M, Chen Y, Tang Q, Hu Y (2019). Seasonal and spatial variations of PM10-bounded PAHs in a coal mining city, China: Distributions, sources, and health risks. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 169: 470–478

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou Y, Liu Y, Song Y, Xie J, Cui X, Zhang B, Shi T, Yuan J, Chen W (2016). Short-term effects of outdoor air pollution on lung function among female non-smokers in China. Scientific Reports, 6(1): 34947

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu F, Ding R, Lei R, Cheng H, Liu J, Shen C, Zhang C, Xu Y, Xiao C, Li X, Zhang J, Cao J (2019). The short-term effects of air pollution on respiratory diseases and lung cancer mortality in Hefei: A time-series analysis. Respiratory Medicine, 146: 57–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu J, Zhang X, Zhang X, Dong M, Wu J, Dong Y, Chen R, Ding X, Huang C, Zhang Q, Zhou W (2017). The burden of ambient air pollution on years of life lost in Wuxi, China, 2012–2015: A time-series study using a distributed lag non-linear model. Environmental Pollution, 224: 689–697

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu S, Xia L, Wu J, Chen S, Chen F, Zeng F, Chen X, Chen C, Xia Y, Zhao X, Zhang J (2018). Ambient air pollutants are associated with newly diagnosed tuberculosis: A time-series study in Chengdu, China. Science of the Total Environment, 631–632: 47–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu Y, Wang Z, Yang J, Zhu L (2020). Does renewable energy technological innovation control China’s air pollution? A spatial analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 250: 119515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zou B, You J, Lin Y, Duan X, Zhao X, Fang X, Campen M J, Li S (2019). Air pollution intervention and life-saving effect in China. Environment International, 125: 529–541

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support received from the Foundation of NUIST-UoR International Research Institute, and the Start-up Foundation for Introducing Talent of NUIST (2018r056).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Business School, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Fengping Hu

  2. Reading Academy, NUIST-UoR International Research Institute, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Yongming Guo

Authors
  1. Fengping Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yongming Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yongming Guo.

Additional information

Highlights

• Impacts of air pollution on various body systems health in China were highlighted.

• China’s actions to control air pollution and their effects were briefly introduced.

• Challenges and perspectives of the health effects of air pollution are provided.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hu, F., Guo, Y. Health impacts of air pollution in China. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 15, 74 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1367-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-020-1367-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation