Social vulnerability assessment for air pollution in China

Abstract

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is one of the most serious health risk factors. Provinces should not only reduce emission sources but also improve the social comprehensive ability to alleviate the air pollution health risk. This study established a social vulnerability index (SVI) for air pollution containing three dimensions (exposure, sensitivity, adaptability), which considered PM_2.5 health impact and social comprehensive ability. The global exposure mortality model and generalized principal component analysis method were applied to calculate these three dimensions values of SVI. PM_2.5 concentration in China increased during 2000–2013 and decreased significantly after 2013 due to the strict air control measures, and the national average level of exposure to air pollution showed the same trend correspondingly during 2000–2015. The national average level of sensitivity showed a continuously decreasing trend while adaptability showed an increasing trend. Provinces in central and western China had higher SVI showing a cluster spatial distribution. Tibet always exhibited a high SVI predominantly due to its pronounced sensitivity coupled with a lack of adaptability, while the high exposure and low adaptability level result in a similarly high SVI in Henan. In contrast, Beijing was always in the lowest five groups of SVI mainly because of its weak sensitivity and strong adaptability. Findings in this study help regions enact specific policies through exposure, sensitivity and adaptability dimensions to reduce health risk and mitigate social vulnerability of air pollution in China.