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Air quality and environmental protection concerns among residents in Nanchang, China

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Abstract

Rapid economic development in China has been accompanied by environmental pollution, most notably air pollution. A cross-sectional survey of residents was conducted at four locations in Nanchang, China, from May to June 2013, using anonymous questionnaires to improve understanding of knowledge and perceptions of air pollution and environmental protection. Descriptive analysis and chi-square tests were performed to estimate the association between concerns about air quality and individual and governmental roles in environmental protection. Five independent variables: respondent’s gender, age, residence, education and income, were statistically analyzed using the chi-square test. The survey was completed by 721 residents (response rate = 89.5 %). Approximately 70 % of the interviewees perceived that the air quality was fair or better, but more than 70 % of participants believed that government in Nanchang has not spent enough resources on preventing air pollution. Almost all of the participants (96.7 %) expressed their support for more governmental actions to improve the air quality and 98 % of the respondents agreed that this is also the responsibility of every citizen. The majority of respondents (over 91 %) worry about the effects of poor air quality on their children’s health in the future. Most citizens, especially those with higher education and income, are strongly supportive of additional efforts to improve air quality. Most respondents (78.5 %) even expressed their willingness to contribute money to improve the air quality.

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Acknowledgments

This study was conducted as part of Nanchang University–University of Hawaii International Public Health Exchange Program. The lead agency was the School of Public Health, Nanchang University. We express our great appreciation to the collaborating agencies, including East Lake District CDC, West Lake District CDC, Jiangxi Provincial Children’s Hospital and East Lake District Kindergarten in Nanchang. We also thank all the teachers and students who took part in the design of the study and the site investigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, China

    Lianjun Zhang, Zhaokang Yuan, Jay E. Maddock, Peng Zhang, Zhiqin Jiang, Jiaojiao Zou & Yuanan Lu

  2. Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Jay E. Maddock, Thomas Lee & Yuanan Lu

Authors
  1. Lianjun Zhang
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  2. Zhaokang Yuan
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  3. Jay E. Maddock
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  4. Peng Zhang
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  5. Zhiqin Jiang
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  6. Thomas Lee
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  7. Jiaojiao Zou
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  8. Yuanan Lu
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Zhaokang Yuan or Yuanan Lu.

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Zhang, L., Yuan, Z., Maddock, J.E. et al. Air quality and environmental protection concerns among residents in Nanchang, China. Air Qual Atmos Health 7, 441–448 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-014-0255-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-014-0255-x

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