TY - JOUR T1 - The Impact of Power Generation Emissions on Ambient PM2.5 Pollution and Human Health in China and India JF - Environment International Y1 - 2018 A1 - Meng Gao A1 - Gufran Beig A1 - Shaojie Song A1 - Hongliang Zhang A1 - Jianlin Hu A1 - Qi Ying A1 - Fengchao Liang A1 - Liu, Yang A1 - Wang, Haikun A1 - Xiao Lu A1 - Tong Zhu A1 - Gregory Carmichael A1 - Nielsen, Chris P. A1 - McElroy, Michael B. AB -

Emissions from power plants in China and India contain a myriad of fine particulate matter (PM2.5, PM≤2.5 micrometers in diameter) precursors, posing significant health risks among large, densely settled populations. Studies isolating the contributions of various source classes and geographic regions are limited in China and India, but such information could be helpful for policy makers attempting to identify efficient mitigation strategies. We quantified the impact of power generation emissions on annual mean PM2.5 concentrations using the state-of-the-art atmospheric chemistry model WRF-Chem (Weather Research Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry) in China and India. Evaluations using nationwide surface measurements show the model performs reasonably well. We calculated province-specific annual changes in mortality and life expectancy due to power generation emissions generated PM2.5 using the Integrated Exposure Response (IER) model, recently updated IER parameters from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2015, population data, and the World Health Organization (WHO) life tables for China and India. We estimate that 15 million (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 10 to 21 million) years of life lost can be avoided in China each year and 11 million (95% CI: 7 to 15 million) in India by eliminating power generation emissions. Priorities in upgrading existing power generating technologies should be given to Shandong, Henan, and Sichuan provinces in China, and Uttar Pradesh state in India due to their dominant contributions to the current health risks.

 

VL - 121, Part 1 UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018313369?dgcid=rss_sd_all N1 - Final Manuscript in DASH ER -