Lung cancer mortality burden and economic losses caused by long-term exposure to PM_2.5 in Hebei Province, China

Objective To evaluate the lung cancer mortality burden and economic losses attributed to long-term exposure to fine particulate matter(PM_2.5) in Hebei Province, China in 2017, and to provide a basis for the control of air pollution and reduction of lung cancer burden in Hebei Province.

Methods By using the PM_2.5 data released by Dalhousie Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group and the regional population spatial distribution data from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), this study estimated excess lung cancer mortality attributed to long-term exposure to PM_2.5 in Hebei Province in 2017 based on Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM). Value of Statistic Life (VSL) method was used to evaluate the corresponding health economic losses.

Results In Hebei Province, the average annual concentration of PM_2.5 during 2014-2017 was 47.31 g/m³, and about 47.45% of total population lived in areas where annual average concentration exceeded Grade Ⅱ national standard (35 g/m³) described in the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. In 2017, the PM_2.5-related excess lung cancer mortality was 7 071 persons (95% CI: 4 448-9 503), and the top five cities were Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Handan, Cangzhou, and Xingtai. In 2017, the corresponding health economic losses were 5.069 billion yuan (95% CI: 3.18-6.80 billion yuan), accounting for 0.36% (95% CI: 0.23%-0.48%) of the GDP of Hebei Province in 2017, and the top five cities were Shijiazhuang, Cangzhou, Baoding, Tangshan, and Handan, accounting for 70.86% of all health economic losses.

Conclusion Long-term exposure to PM_2.5 has caused serious lung cancer mortality burden and economic losses in Hebei Province, with high burden in heavily polluted areas. Specific control and management measures should be taken to reduce the concentration of PM_2.5 and thus the mortality burden and economic losses.