Polluted air, healthier diets: Household food consumption patterns in response to air quality in China

Abstract

This study examines how air pollution affects household food consumption using high-frequency data from over 30,000 households in 25 Chinese cities (2014–2019). Employing an instrumental variable approach based on wind direction, we find that a one-standard-deviation increase in PM2.5 raises weekly expenditure on healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and dairy, by 9.3 yuan, or 11 % of the within-household standard deviation. Spending on less healthy foods remains unaffected, suggesting targeted adjustments toward nutrient-dense foods. These changes improve nutrient intake but are immediate and transitory, with no evidence of lasting dietary shifts. The effects are stronger for higher-income households and those with elderly members, reflecting health concerns and financial flexibility, while lower-income households show constrained responses. Air pollution also reduces dining out expenditures, indicating a substitution toward home-prepared meals. These findings highlight air pollution’s welfare costs, socioeconomic disparities, and the need for equitable public health policies.