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Multidimensional effects of urbanization on PM2.5 concentration in China

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Abstract

Recently, the contradiction between urbanization and the air environment has gradually attracted attention. However, most existing studies have explored the impact of single urbanization factors, such as population, the economy, or land, on PM2.5 and ignored the impact of multidimensional urbanization on PM2.5 concentration. Moreover, the heterogeneity in the mechanisms responsible for the PM2.5 concentration caused by multidimensional urbanization has not been thoroughly studied in different regions in China. Therefore, we investigate the spatial–temporal evolution characteristics of PM2.5 concentration in China during 1998–2019 by spatial analysis and dynamic panel models based on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC). Then, we study the effects of multidimensional urbanization on PM2.5 concentration, and analyze the dominant factors in China’s eight economic regions. During the study period, the PM2.5 concentration in China fluctuated before 2013 and gradually decreased thereafter. The PM2.5 concentration has significant regional differences in China. Spatially, the PM2.5 concentration is higher in the north than in the south and higher in the east than in the west. Additionally, there is a significant spatial spillover effect. Both population urbanization and economic urbanization show an inverted U-shaped relationship with PM2.5 concentration in China, which is consistent with the classical EKC theory. Due to other socioeconomic factors, the PM2.5 concentration tends to decrease linearly with increasing land urbanization rate. The effects of urbanization on the PM2.5 concentration in the eight economic regions in China show significant differences. The effect of land urbanization on the PM2.5 concentration is dominant in the Middle Yangtze River region, that of economic urbanization is dominant in northwestern China, and that of population urbanization is dominant in the remaining regions in China.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the editor and the anonymous reviewers for providing constructive comments and suggestions.

Funding

This research is supported by funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41901141, 71904125, 72088101, 71690241).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University No, 1, University Road, Science Park, Changqing District, Jinan Shandong, 250358, People’s Republic of China

    Guangzhi Qi, Zhibao Wang, Lijie Wei & Zhixiu Wang

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  1. Guangzhi Qi
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  2. Zhibao Wang
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  3. Lijie Wei
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  4. Zhixiu Wang
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Contributions

Guangzhi Qi: data curation, writing-original draft, software, methodology. Zhibao Wang: conceptualization, methodology, visualization, investigation, writing—review & editing. Lijie Wei: writing—review & editing. Zhixiu Wang: supervision.

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Correspondence to Zhibao Wang.

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Responsible Editor: Ilhan Ozturk

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Highlights

• The spatial pattern of PM2.5 concentration is heavier in the north than in the south, and heavier in the east than in the west.

• Both population urbanization and economic urbanization show an inverted “U-shaped” relationship with PM2.5 concentration in China.

• PM2.5 concentration tends to decrease linearly with the increase of land urbanization rate.

• Urbanization effects on PM2.5 concentration in eight economic regions in China show significant differences.

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Qi, G., Wang, Z., Wei, L. et al. Multidimensional effects of urbanization on PM2.5 concentration in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 77081–77096 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21298-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21298-4

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