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Air Pollution, Disease Burden, and Health Economic Loss in China

Chapter
First Online:
Part of the Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology book series (AEMB, volume 1017)

Abstract

As the largest developing country in the world, China is now facing one of the severest air pollution problems. The objective of this section is to evaluate the disease burden and corresponding economic loss attributable to ambient air pollution in China. We reviewed a series of studies by Chinese or foreign investigators focusing on the disease burden and economic loss in China. These studies showed both the general air pollution and haze episodes have resulted in substantial disease burden in terms of excess number of premature deaths, disability-adjusted life-year loss, and years of life lost. The corresponding economic loss has accounted for an appreciable proportion of China’s national economy. Overall, the disease burden and health economic loss due to ambient air pollution in China is greater than in the remaining parts of the world, for one of the highest levels of air pollution and the largest size of exposed population. Consideration of both health and economic impacts of air pollution can facilitate the Chinese government to develop environmental policies to reduce the emissions of various air pollutants and protect the public health.

Keywords

Air pollution Disease burden Economic loss China 
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Notes

Acknowledgment

This chapter was supported by Grants from Public Welfare Research Program of National Health and Family Planning Commission of China (201502003), National Natural Science Foundation of China (91643205), China Medical Board Collaborating Program (13-152), and Cyrus Tang Foundation (CTF-FD2014001).

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© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Environmental Health, School of Public HealthFudan UniversityShanghaiChina

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