Joint occurrence of heatwaves and ozone pollution and increased health risks in Beijing, China: role of synoptic weather pattern and urbanization

Heatwaves (HWs) paired with higher ozone (O-3) concentration at the surface level pose a serious threat to human health. Their combined modulation of synoptic patterns and urbanization remains unclear. Using 5 years of summertime temperature and O-3 concentration observation in Beijing, this study explored potential drivers of compound HWs and O-3 pollution events and their public health effects. Three favorable synoptic weather patterns were identified to dominate the compound HWs and O-3 pollution events. These weather patterns contributing to enhance those conditions are characterized by sinking air motion, low boundary layer height, and high temperatures. Under the synergy of HWs and O-3 pollution, the mortality risk from all non-accidental causes increased by approximately 12.31 % (95 % confidence interval: 4.66 %, 20.81 %). Urbanization caused a higher risk of HWs and O-3 in urban areas than at rural stations. Particularly, due to O(3 )depletion caused by NO titration at traffic and urban stations, the health risks related to O(3 )pollution in different regions are characterized as follows: suburban stations > urban stations > rural stations > traffic stations. In general, favorable synoptic patterns and urbanization enhanced the health risk of these compound events in Beijing by 33.09 % and 18.95 %, respectively. Our findings provide robust evidence and implications for forecasting compound HWs and O-3 pollution events and their health risks in Beijing or in other urban areas all over the world that have high concentrations of O-3 and high-density populations.

Automated summary

Heatwaves paired with higher ozone concentration pose a serious threat to human health. This study in Beijing identified three synoptic weather patterns that contribute to compound heatwaves and ozone pollution events. These patterns are characterized by sinking air motion, low boundary layer height, and high temperatures. The synergy of heatwaves and ozone pollution increased the mortality risk from all non-accidental causes. Urbanization also played a role in increasing the risk of heatwaves and ozone pollution in urban areas.