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Increased air pollution exposure among the Chinese population during the national quarantine in 2020

Author

Listed:
  • Huizhong Shen

    (Georgia Institute of Technology
    Peking University)

  • Guofeng Shen

    (Peking University)

  • Yilin Chen

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Armistead G. Russell

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Yongtao Hu

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Xiaoli Duan

    (University of Science and Technology Beijing)

  • Wenjun Meng

    (Peking University)

  • Yang Xu

    (Peking University)

  • Xiao Yun

    (Peking University)

  • Baolei Lyu

    (Huayun Sounding Meteorology Technology Corporation)

  • Shunliu Zhao

    (Carleton University)

  • Amir Hakami

    (Carleton University)

  • Jianping Guo

    (Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences)

  • Shu Tao

    (Peking University)

  • Kirk R. Smith

    (University of California)

Abstract

The COVID-19 quarantine in China is thought to have reduced ambient air pollution. The overall exposure of the population also depends, however, on indoor air quality and human mobility and activities. Here, by integrating real-time mobility data and a questionnaire survey on time-activity patterns during the pandemic, we show that despite a decrease in ambient PM2.5 during the quarantine, the total population-weighted exposure to PM2.5 considering both indoor and outdoor environments increased by 5.7 μg m−3 (95% confidence interval, 1.2–11.0 μg m−3). The increase in population-weighted exposure was mainly driven by a nationwide urban-to-rural population migration before the Spring Festival coupled with the freezing of the migration backward due to the quarantine, which increased household energy consumption and the fraction of people exposed to rural household air pollution indoors. Our analysis reveals an increased inequality of air pollution exposure during the quarantine and highlights the importance of household air pollution for population health in China.

Suggested Citation

  • Huizhong Shen & Guofeng Shen & Yilin Chen & Armistead G. Russell & Yongtao Hu & Xiaoli Duan & Wenjun Meng & Yang Xu & Xiao Yun & Baolei Lyu & Shunliu Zhao & Amir Hakami & Jianping Guo & Shu Tao & Kirk, 2021. "Increased air pollution exposure among the Chinese population during the national quarantine in 2020," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(2), pages 239-246, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:5:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1038_s41562-020-01018-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-01018-z
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