Health\nImpacts of\nFine Particulate Matter Shift Due\nto Urbanization in China

Rapid urbanization and industrialization\nhave resulted\nin diverse\nanthropogenic activities and emissions between urban and non-urban\nregions, leading to varying levels of exposure to air pollutants and\nassociated health risks. However, endeavors to mitigate air pollution\nand health benefits have displayed considerable heterogeneity across\ndifferent regions. Therefore, comprehending the changes in air pollutant\nconcentrations and health impacts within an urbanization context is\nimperative for promoting environmental equity. This paper uses gross\ndomestic product (GDP)- and population-weighted methods to distinguish\nanthropogenic emissions from urban and non-urban areas in China and\nquantified their contributions to fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model\nin 2010 and 2019. Anthropogenic emissions from urban and non-urban\n(outside urban) regions decreased by 26 and 44% from 2010 to 2019,\nrespectively, resulting in 31 and 28% reductions of PM<sub>2.5</sub> in China. PM<sub>2.5</sub>-related premature mortality attributed\nto non-urban and urban anthropogenic emission decreases by 8%. Non-urban\nanthropogenic activities are the main contributor to PM<sub>2.5</sub> (56% in 2010 and 2019) and its associated premature mortality (59%),\nwhich also predominantly affects non-urban premature mortality (37–42%\nin 2010–2019). Population changes increase the proportion of\npremature mortality in urban populations (7–19%) from 2010\nto 2019. This study emphasizes the shift of affected populations due\nto urbanization and population changes.