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Evaluation of life expectancy loss associated with submicron and fine particulate matter (PM1 and PM2.5) air pollution in Nanjing, China

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Abstract

Particulate matters with an aerodynamic diameter ≤1 μm (PM1) significantly increased mortality risk, and the effect of PM1 was even greater than that of PM2.5 (aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm). But the quantitative impact of PM1 on life expectancy was unknown. We aim to examine the extent to which that people’s life expectancy was shortened by PM1 and PM2.5. We obtained daily data on deaths, PM1 and PM2.5 records, and weather variables during 2016–2017 in Nanjing, China. Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated by matching each decedent’s age and sex to the Chinese life table. The fitted nonlinear dose-response associations of YLLs with PM1 and PM2.5 were estimated by utilizing a generalized additive model with a Gaussian link that controlled for confounding factors including meteorological variables, day of week, and long-term trend and seasonality. The effect estimates were presented as the YLLs when PM1 and PM2.5 concentrations fell in different ranges. Life expectancy losses attributable to PM1 and PM2.5 were calculated. Stratified analyses were also performed by age, sex, and death causes. Significant PM-YLL associations were observed, with greater increases in YLLs associated with PM1 (68.9 thousand). PM1 was estimated to reduce life expectancy, which was greater than PM2.5 (PM1: 1.67 years; PM2.5: 1.55 years). For PM1, greater years of loss in PM-related life expectancy were found in the female group, ≥65 years group, and cardiovascular disease group. Exposure to PM1 had a greater impact on life expectancy loss than did PM2.5. Constant efforts are urgently needed to control PM1 air pollution to improve people’s longevity.

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Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81773518) and the High-Level Scientific Research Foundation of Anhui Medical University (No. 0305044201).

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Contributions

All authors contributed to the final version of the manuscript and have approved the final article. Their contributions to the article were as follows. Hao Zheng, Weizhuo Yi, and Zhen Ding: conceptualization, methodology, data curation, formal analysis, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing. Zhiwei Xu, Hung Chak Ho, and Jian Cheng: formal analysis, writing—review and editing. Mohammad Zahid Hossain and Jian Song: formal analysis, writing—review and editing. Yinguang Fan and Jing Ni: data curation, validation. Qingqing Wang and Yan Xu: formal analysis, methodology, data curation. Jing Wei and Hong Su: supervision, conceptualization, validation, writing—original draft, writing—review and editing.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jing Wei or Hong Su.

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Ethics approval

This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Anhui Medical University (Hefei, Anhui, China).

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Not applicable. (This study does not contain any individual person’s data in any form.)

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The authors declare that they agree with the publication of this paper in this journal.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Responsible Editor: Lotfi Aleya

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Supporting Information

ESM 1

(DOC 19 kb)

Figure S1 The geographical location of Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, China.

Figure S2 Histogram of the frequency distribution of daily years of life lost in 2016-2017.

Figure S3 Time-series distribution of PM1, PM2.5, and YLLs in Nanjing, China 2016-2017. PM1, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤1μm; PM2.5, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5μm; YLLs, years of life lost.

Figure S4 Dose-response relationships between daily PM1 and PM2.5 concentrations and YLLs for the total population using double-pollutant model (PMs and NO2). (a), relationship of PM1-YLL; (b), relationship of PM2.5-YLL; PM1, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤1μm; PM2.5, particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5μm; YLLs, years of life lost.

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Zheng, H., Yi, W., Ding, Z. et al. Evaluation of life expectancy loss associated with submicron and fine particulate matter (PM1 and PM2.5) air pollution in Nanjing, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 68134–68143 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15244-z

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