How longer can people live by achieving the daily ambient fine particulate pollution standards in the Pearl River Delta region, China?

Background: Previous research has reported the effects of long-term fine particulate matter (PM) pollution on years of life lost (YLL), but these effects may not represent the full impact. This study aims to estimate potential benefits in life time from adhering to daily ambient PM concentration standards/guidelines.

Methods: This study evaluated the relationship between daily ambient PM level and YLL using a two-stage approach with generalized additive models and meta-analysis. Potential life expectancy gains were then estimated by presuming that daily PM levels were in compliance with the Chinese and WHO standards. In addition, the attributable fraction of YLL due to excess PM exposure was also calculated.

Results: During 2013-2016, 459,468 non-accidental deaths were recorded in the six cities of Pearl River Delta, China. Each 10 μg/m increment in four-day average (lag) level of PM was related to an increment of 13.31 [95% confidence interval (CI): 5.74, 20.87] years of life lost. Implementation of the WHO guidelines might avoid 180,980.83 YLLs (95% CI: 78,116.07, 283,845.60), which corresponded to 0.39 (95% CI: 0.17, 0.62) years of increased life time per death. Additionally, an estimated 0.15% (95% CI: 0.06%, 0.23%) or 2.04% (95% CI: 0.88%, 3.20%) of YLLs could be attributed to PM exposures higher than the Chinese or WHO guidelines, respectively.

Conclusions: This study suggests that people might live longer by controlling daily PM concentration and highlights the need to adopt stricter standards in China.