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A national analysis of the geographic aspects and ecological correlates of PM2.5 in China based on ground observational data

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Abstract

Increasing studies have investigated the characteristics of fine particulate matter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) using ground-level observations among Chinese cities in recent years. This article analyzed the geographic aspects and ecological correlates of PM2.5 based on in situ ambient air quality observations for 367 cities and prefectures across China. Results of global and local Moran’s I analyses suggested a significant clustered pattern of PM2.5 across the country with hot spots mainly concentrated in cities located in the North China Plain. Spatially interpolated PM2.5 estimates showed that most of China’s territories experienced unhealthy concentrations of PM2.5 except during summer, while much larger proportions of China’s population was exposed to unhealthy PM2.5 all year round. Results from regression analyses suggested that the spatial variations of PM2.5 were positively associated with air pollution but inversely related to meteorological factors. Findings from this research can provide new insights into air pollution mitigation policies and public health efforts in China and beyond.

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Notes

  1. After diagnosing the results of OLS regression, we decided to run a spatial lag model instead of a spatial error model because the Robust LM (lag) value was more significant than the Robust LM (error), which suggests the former is a more appropriate alternative option than OLS (Anselin 2009).

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Funding

This article was supported by a research grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC no. 41430637).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Research Institute of Yellow River Civilization and Sustainable Development & Collaborative Innovation Center on Yellow River Civilization of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475001, Henan, China

    Zhiqiang Hu & Changhong Miao

  2. College of Environment and Planning, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan Province, China

    Zhiqiang Hu & Changhong Miao

  3. Department of Geography & Geosciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA

    Charlie H. Zhang

Authors
  1. Zhiqiang Hu
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  2. Charlie H. Zhang
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  3. Changhong Miao
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Correspondence to Charlie H. Zhang or Changhong Miao.

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Hu, Z., Zhang, C.H. & Miao, C. A national analysis of the geographic aspects and ecological correlates of PM2.5 in China based on ground observational data. Air Qual Atmos Health 12, 425–434 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-019-00662-3

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