The impact of power generation emissions on ambient PM2.5 pollution and human health in China and India

Meng Gao; Gufran Beig; Shaojie Song; Hongliang Zhang; Jianlin Hu; Qi Ying; Fengchao Liang; Yang Liu; Haikun Wang; Xiao Lu; Tong Zhu; Gregory R Carmichael; Chris P Nielsen; Michael B McElroy

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2018.09.015

Back

The impact of power generation emissions on ambient PM2.5 pollution and human health in China and India

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The impact of power generation emissions on ambient PM2.5 pollution and human health in China and India

Meng Gao, Gufran Beig, Shaojie Song, Hongliang Zhang, Jianlin Hu, Qi Ying, Fengchao Liang, Yang Liu, Haikun Wang, Xiao Lu, …

Environment international, Vol.121, pp.250-259

12/2018

DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.09.015

PMID: 30223201

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.09.015View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Emissions from power plants in China and India contain a myriad of fine particulate matter (PM2.5, PM ≤ 2.5 μm in diameter) precursors, posing significant health risks among large, densely settled populations. Studies isolating the contributions of various source classes and geographic regions are limited in China and India, but such information could be helpful for policy makers attempting to identify efficient mitigation strategies. We quantified the impact of power generation emissions on annual mean PM2.5 concentrations using the state-of-the-art atmospheric chemistry model WRF-Chem (Weather Research Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry) in China and India. Evaluations using nationwide surface measurements show the model performs reasonably well. We calculated province-specific annual changes in mortality and life expectancy due to power generation emissions generated PM2.5 using the Integrated Exposure Response (IER) model, recently updated IER parameters from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2015, population data, and the World Health Organization (WHO) life tables for China and India. We estimate that 15 million (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 10 to 21 million) years of life lost can be avoided in China each year and 11 million (95% CI: 7 to 15 million) in India by eliminating power generation emissions. Priorities in upgrading existing power generating technologies should be given to Shandong, Henan, and Sichuan provinces in China, and Uttar Pradesh state in India due to their dominant contributions to the current health risks. •Health risks of emissions from power plants in China and India are estimated using the state-of-the-science framework.•Both mortality burdens and years of life lost (YLL) are calculated for each province/state in China and India.

Air quality modeling

China

India

Power generation

WRF-Chem

Details

Title: Subtitle: The impact of power generation emissions on ambient PM2.5 pollution and human health in China and India
Creators: Meng Gao - Harvard University
Gufran Beig - Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
Shaojie Song - Harvard University
Hongliang Zhang - Louisiana State University
Jianlin Hu - Nanjing University
Qi Ying - Texas A&M University
Fengchao Liang - Emory University
Yang Liu - Emory University
Haikun Wang - Nanjing University
Xiao Lu - Peking University
Tong Zhu - Peking University
Gregory R Carmichael - University of Iowa
Chris P Nielsen - Harvard University
Michael B McElroy - Harvard University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Environment international, Vol.121, pp.250-259
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.09.015
PMID: 30223201
NLM abbreviation: Environ Int
ISSN: 0160-4120
eISSN: 1873-6750
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100007229, name: Harvard University; DOI: 10.13039/100016486, name: Harvard Global Institute
Language: English
Date published: 12/2018
Academic Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Nursing; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Record Identifier: 9984185461302771

Metrics

18 Record Views

137 Times Cited - Web of Science