Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Daily Mortality A Nationwide Analysis in 272 Chinese Cities

Rationale: Evidence concerning the acute health effects of air pollution caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in developing countries is quite limited. Objectives: To evaluate short-term associations between PM2.5 and daily cause-specific mortality in China. Methods: A nationwide time-series analysis was performed in 272 representative Chinese cities from 2013 to 2015. Two-stage Bayesian hierarchical models were applied to estimate regionaland national-average associations betweenPM(2.5) concentrations and daily cause-specific mortality. City-specific effects of PM2.5 were estimated using the overdispersed generalized additive models after adjusting for time trends, day of the week, and weather conditions. Exposure-response relationship curves and potential effect modifiers were also evaluated. Measurements and Main Results: The average of annual mean PM2.5 concentration in each city was 56 mg/m3 (minimum, 18 mg/m3; maximum, 127mg/m3). Each 10-mg/m3 increase in 2-daymoving average of PM2.5 concentrations was significantly associated with increments in mortality of 0.22% from total nonaccidental causes, 0.27% from cardiovascular diseases, 0.39% from hypertension, 0.30% from coronary heart diseases, 0.23% from stroke, 0.29% from respiratory diseases, and 0.38% fromchronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Therewas a leveling off in the exposure-response curves at high concentrations in most, but not all, regions. The associations were stronger in cities with lower PM2.5 levels or higher temperatures, andin subpopulations with elder ageor less education. Conclusions: This nationwide investigation provided robust evidence of the associations between short-term exposure to PM2.5 and increased mortality from various cardiopulmonary diseases in China. The magnitude of associations was lower than those reported in Europe and North America.