A Study of the Impact of Industrial Land Development on PM 2.5 Concentrations in China

To promote the sustainable use of land resources and improve air pollution control, this study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of industrial land development and the heterogeneity of PM 2.5 concentrations across regions. Based on national land transaction data and PM 2.5 raster datasets, the analysis employs Moran’s I, a hot and cold spot analysis, and multivariate linear regression to examine how the transaction frequency, transaction area, and total transaction price of industrial land influence PM 2.5 concentrations in 286 cities from 2010 to 2021. The study focuses on quantifying the impact of industrial land development on PM 2.5 concentrations. The main findings are as follows: (1) the frequency of industrial land transactions varies significantly across regions, with clear intra-regional differences. The transaction area and total transaction price decrease in the following order: “East-West-Central-North-East” and “East-Central-West-North-East”, respectively. (2) The spatial clustering of PM 2.5 concentrations has intensified, with hot spots concentrated in Eastern and Central cities. Cold spots are distributed in bands along the Southern coast and scattered patterns in Heilongjiang Province. (3) The influence of industrial land development on PM 2.5 concentrations has generally weakened nationwide, with the strongest effects observed in the Eastern region. Among the development indicators, the impact of the transaction area is increasing, while those of the transaction frequency and total price are declining, showing clear regional disparities. Therefore, integrating sustainable development principles into the adjustment of the industrial land market is essential for effective air pollution prevention.