Beijing's Pollution: Counting The Premature Deaths

Air pollution is a pressing issue in China, causing millions of premature deaths each year. In 2019, about 6.67 million premature deaths worldwide were attributed to air pollution, with China suffering 1.85 million of these deaths. Beijing, in particular, has been at the centre of this crisis, with air pollution causing an alarming number of premature deaths in the city. This raises the question: how many premature deaths in Beijing are caused by pollution, and what is being done to address this critical issue?

Beijing's air pollution is caused by vehicle emissions, coal-burning industries, and exhaust from vehicles

Beijing's air pollution is a pressing issue, with the city facing high levels of outdoor air pollution that pose significant risks to public health. The main contributors to Beijing's air pollution are vehicle emissions, coal-burning industries, and exhaust from vehicles.

Vehicle emissions have been identified as a critical factor in Beijing's air pollution. The rapid growth in the number of vehicles in China, with a total of 360 million in 2020, has made vehicle emissions a major culprit, especially in large cities like Beijing. The combustion of gasoline and diesel fuel in vehicle engines releases harmful emissions, including CO, HC, NOx, and particulate matter (PM2.5). In 2018, vehicle emissions were blamed for about 45% of Beijing's air pollution, highlighting the significant impact of this factor.

Beijing's air pollution is also influenced by coal-burning industries located south and east of the city. Winds carry pollutants from these factories into Beijing, where they are trapped by the surrounding mountains. Additionally, coal-burning, particularly in power plants and households, contributes to the high levels of PM2.5 in the air, which has serious health implications. A study attributed 155,000 deaths in 2013 related to ambient PM2.5 to industrial coal burning, and 86,500 deaths to coal-burning at power plants.

The concentration of exhaust from vehicles in Beijing further exacerbates the air pollution problem. The dense traffic conditions in the city contribute to high levels of PM2.5 and other harmful emissions. Beijing has implemented measures to address this issue, such as enforcing stricter motor vehicle emissions standards, but the challenge remains to control the fast-growing number of vehicles on the road.

The health impacts of Beijing's air pollution are significant. Studies have shown that exposure to outdoor air pollution can lead to respiratory illnesses, heart disease, strokes, lung cancer, and premature death. Beijing launched a four-color alert system in 2013, based on the air quality index (AQI), to monitor and address the issue. According to a 2013 study, Beijing had the second-highest premature mortality rate among 338 Chinese cities, with 26,945 premature deaths attributed to air pollution.

In summary, Beijing's air pollution is a complex issue influenced by vehicle emissions, coal-burning industries, and vehicle exhaust. The interplay of these factors has led to high levels of air pollution, posing risks to public health and contributing to premature deaths. Addressing these issues requires a combination of regulatory measures, technological advancements, and a shift towards cleaner energy sources.

Beijing's air quality is reported using the Air Quality Index (AQI), with higher values indicating worse air quality

The AQI takes into account various pollutants, including PM2.5 (fine particulate matter), PM10 (respirable particulate matter), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), SO2 (sulfur dioxide), O3 (ozone), and CO (carbon monoxide). Each pollutant is assigned a specific value within the AQI, reflecting the level of concern for public health and the environment.

Beijing has implemented measures to improve its air quality, such as launching a four-color alert system in 2013, which was revised in 2016 to standardise alert levels across multiple cities. The city also issued the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP) in 2013, which aimed to reduce PM2.5 concentrations. These efforts have contributed to a decreasing trend in air pollution levels, with the average annual population-weighted PM2.5 exposure in China decreasing by 9% from 1990 to 2017.

Despite these improvements, air pollution in Beijing continues to have significant health impacts. Studies have shown that Beijing is among the cities with the highest premature mortality rates due to air pollution, particularly related to IHD, CEV, LC, and LRI. The specific causes of these premature deaths include heart disease and lung cancer, as well as respiratory illnesses and other diseases caused by indoor and outdoor air pollution.

The effects of air pollution on health can vary depending on an individual's sensitivity. While some people may experience minor to moderate symptoms, others may suffer from more severe health issues, such as difficulty breathing and throat irritation. It is important for residents of Beijing to stay informed about the current air quality levels and take necessary precautions, especially for sensitive groups, to minimise potential health risks associated with air pollution.

Beijing's average AQI in February 2020 was 155, while it improved to 73 in September

Beijing's air quality has been a significant concern for decades, with pollution causing premature deaths and contributing to various health issues. In February 2020, the city's average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 155, indicating unhealthy air quality. However, by September of the same year, the AQI had improved significantly to 73, which is considered moderately healthy. This improvement is a step in the right direction for Beijing, which has historically struggled with poor air quality due to industrialisation, urbanisation, and the burning of fossil fuels.

AQI is a crucial indicator of the level of air pollution and potential health risks. An AQI value of 100 is typically considered the threshold between healthy and unhealthy air quality. When the AQI exceeds 100, sensitive groups may experience adverse health effects, and certain outdoor activities are recommended to be limited. Beijing's AQI of 155 in February 2020 fell into the unhealthy category, suggesting that the air quality posed potential health risks to residents.

The improvement to an AQI of 73 in September indicates a positive shift towards healthier air quality. At this level, most individuals can engage in normal outdoor activities without significant health concerns. However, it is important to note that even at moderate AQI levels, sensitive individuals may still experience some respiratory irritation or discomfort.

Beijing has implemented various measures to improve its air quality and reduce pollution-related health risks. These efforts include closing factories, phasing out coal-fired power stations, and removing high-emission vehicles from the roads. The city has also introduced a four-colour alert system based on the AQI to inform residents about the current air quality and any potential health risks.

While the improvement in Beijing's AQI from February to September 2020 is encouraging, the city still faces challenges in maintaining consistently healthy air quality. Pollution continues to be a pressing issue, and further efforts are needed to sustain and build upon the positive changes. By addressing industrial pollution, reducing fossil fuel consumption, and promoting cleaner energy sources, Beijing can continue to make strides towards a healthier environment for its residents.

Beijing launched a four-color alert system in 2013 based on the AQI, revised in 2016 to standardize alert levels

Beijing has long struggled with air pollution, which has been linked to a high number of premature deaths in the city. In 2013, Beijing launched a four-color alert system based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) to address this issue. The AQI indicates how clean or polluted the air is, and the four-color alert system was designed to provide a clear warning to residents about the level of pollution in the city.

The four colors in the system, from highest to lowest level of pollution, are red, orange, yellow, and blue. Initially, a red alert was issued when the AQI was forecast to exceed 200 for at least three days, which the US deemed "very unhealthy". However, this threshold was later raised, and a red alert is now issued when the daily average AQI is forecast to exceed 500 for one day, 300 for two consecutive days, or 200 for four days. This change was implemented in 2016 to standardize alert levels across Beijing and the surrounding areas, including the port city of Tianjin and four cities in the Hebei province.

The orange alert, the second-highest level, was originally triggered when the AQI surpassed 200 for three days, with at least one of those days above 300. However, Beijing later relaxed the conditions for an orange alert, requiring only that the AQI surpass 200 for three days. The yellow alert, the third level, triggers a series of compulsory emergency responses, including the suspension of construction operations, restrictions on heavy-polluting vehicles, and the suspension of production in smokestack industries. The blue alert, which was later scrapped, indicated that the AQI was forecast to reach between 200 and 300 PM2.5 for one day.

The four-color alert system has been an important tool in Beijing's efforts to combat air pollution and improve the health of its citizens. According to a study, Beijing had the second-highest number of premature deaths out of 338 cities in China due to IHD, CEV, LC, and LRI, with 26,945 persons affected. Another study estimated that there were 1.4 million premature deaths in China due to air pollution, with particulate matter, especially PM2.5, posing a serious threat to public health.

Efforts to improve air quality include China's 2013 Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan, which reduced PM2.5 concentrations

Efforts to improve air quality in China have been ongoing for some time, with environmental regulations and industrial reforms having some effect. In 2007, a World Bank report found that outdoor air pollution was causing 350,000 to 400,000 premature deaths per year in China, with an additional 300,000 dying from indoor pollution.

In 2013, China issued the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (APPCAP) to combat severe air pollution and protect public health. This plan included a $270 billion investment initiative to address the root causes of air pollution, such as reducing the energy structure's dependency on coal, regulating vehicle emissions, and encouraging renewable energy sources. The APPCAP has been effective in reducing PM2.5 concentrations and SO2 emissions in pilot areas, with a significant negative impact on fine particulate matter.

The implementation of the plan has resulted in a series of regulatory measures, including mandatory and strengthened enterprise air pollutant emission standards. Strengthening industrial emission standards, upgrading industrial boilers, phasing out outdated industrial capacities, and promoting clean fuels in the residential sector have all contributed to reducing PM2.5 pollution and health burdens.

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) region, one of the most polluted regions in China, was used as a case study to assess the impact of phased emission control measures. With the implementation of the Action Plan, emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), PM2.5, non-methane volatile organic compound (NMVOC), and ammonia (NH3) were expected to decrease significantly by 2017 and even more so by 2020.

The tough clean air policies implemented in China from 2013 to 2017 resulted in significant declines in fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations nationwide. The measure-by-measure evaluation of China's recent clean air actions provides valuable insights for future policy-making in China and other developing and polluting countries.

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