Effects of urban form on haze pollution in China: Spatial regression analysis based on PM2.5 remote sensing data

In recent years, haze pollution has posed a great threat to public health in any Chinese cities. It is necessary to explore different prevention methods for haze, and shaping a reasonable urban form may be a good way to improve air quality. This study selected 269 cities as sample cities, used PM2.5 remote sensing data, and employed spatial regression models to explore the effects of urban form on haze pollution. The results show that urban form can affect the concentration of PM2.5 through vehicle use, green land regulation, pollutant diffusion, and the heat island effect. The results suggest that the effects of population density, degree of centering, and compactness on air quality depend on population size. Therefore, different development strategies should be used for cities of different sizes. Regional transmission is an important source of haze pollution, and regional joint management strategies for combating haze pollution should be strengthened.