Air pollution-related mortality and contributing factors in Chengdu: insights from a Basin City bordering the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

The adverse health effects of air pollution have long been a major public health concern. However, significant regional disparities exist in epidemiological findings. This study utilizes ambient air quality monitoring data and mortality records from a Basin City near the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in 2023, applying the Generalized Additive Model to quantitatively assess the association between air pollution and mortality. The measurement record revealed that ozone concentrations exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard II during more than 40% of the observation period, identifying it as the most critical pollutant. Notably, 29.4% and 14.1% of deaths-higher than any other cause-were attributable to circulatory and respiratory system damage, respectively. Age-stratified analyses revealed that 77% of deaths occurred in individuals aged over 65 years. PM_2.5 concentrations exhibited the strongest correlation with mortality (r = 0.98), whereas ozone concentrations demonstrated a significant but weaker association (r = 0.82). The fitted curve closely aligned with observed data at low pollutant concentrations. Mortality rates exhibited a positive correlation with increasing pollutant concentrations. The synergistic effects of ozone with other pollutants exhibited more severe health impacts. Air pollution exerts a significant public health burden, particularly in elderly populations.