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Source sector and fuel contributions to ambient PM2.5 and attributable mortality across multiple spatial scales

Author

Listed:
  • Erin E. McDuffie

    (Washington University in St. Louis
    Dalhousie University)

  • Randall V. Martin

    (Washington University in St. Louis
    Dalhousie University)

  • Joseph V. Spadaro

    (Spadaro Environmental Research Consultants (SERC))

  • Richard Burnett

    (University of Washington)

  • Steven J. Smith

    (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Patrick O’Rourke

    (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Melanie S. Hammer

    (Washington University in St. Louis
    Dalhousie University)

  • Aaron Donkelaar

    (Washington University in St. Louis
    Dalhousie University)

  • Liam Bindle

    (Washington University in St. Louis
    Dalhousie University)

  • Viral Shah

    (University of Washington
    Harvard University)

  • Lyatt Jaeglé

    (University of Washington)

  • Gan Luo

    (University at Albany)

  • Fangqun Yu

    (University at Albany)

  • Jamiu A. Adeniran

    (Peking University)

  • Jintai Lin

    (Peking University)

  • Michael Brauer

    (University of Washington
    University of British Columbia)

Abstract

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is the world’s leading environmental health risk factor. Reducing the PM2.5 disease burden requires specific strategies that target dominant sources across multiple spatial scales. We provide a contemporary and comprehensive evaluation of sector- and fuel-specific contributions to this disease burden across 21 regions, 204 countries, and 200 sub-national areas by integrating 24 global atmospheric chemistry-transport model sensitivity simulations, high-resolution satellite-derived PM2.5 exposure estimates, and disease-specific concentration response relationships. Globally, 1.05 (95% Confidence Interval: 0.74–1.36) million deaths were avoidable in 2017 by eliminating fossil-fuel combustion (27.3% of the total PM2.5 burden), with coal contributing to over half. Other dominant global sources included residential (0.74 [0.52–0.95] million deaths; 19.2%), industrial (0.45 [0.32–0.58] million deaths; 11.7%), and energy (0.39 [0.28–0.51] million deaths; 10.2%) sectors. Our results show that regions with large anthropogenic contributions generally had the highest attributable deaths, suggesting substantial health benefits from replacing traditional energy sources.

Suggested Citation

  • Erin E. McDuffie & Randall V. Martin & Joseph V. Spadaro & Richard Burnett & Steven J. Smith & Patrick O’Rourke & Melanie S. Hammer & Aaron Donkelaar & Liam Bindle & Viral Shah & Lyatt Jaeglé & Gan Lu, 2021. "Source sector and fuel contributions to ambient PM2.5 and attributable mortality across multiple spatial scales," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-23853-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23853-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Duque, Valentina & Gilraine, Michael, 2022. "Coal use, air pollution, and student performance," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    2. Fan, Jing-Li & Li, Zezheng & Li, Kai & Zhang, Xian, 2022. "Modelling plant-level abatement costs and effects of incentive policies for coal-fired power generation retrofitted with CCUS," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    3. Zhu, Lin & Liao, Hua & Burke, Paul J., 2023. "Household fuel transitions have substantially contributed to child mortality reductions in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).

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