Environment International
Volume 113, 2018, Pages 290-299

Impacts of rural worker migration on ambient air quality and health in China: From the perspective of upgrading residential energy consumption (Article)

Shen H. , Chen Y. , Russell A.G. , Hu Y. , Shen G. , Yu H. , Henneman L.R.F. , Ru M. , Huang Y. , Zhong Q. , Li Y. , Zou Y. , Zeng E.Y. , Fan R. , Tao S.*
  • a Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
  • b Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China, School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States; Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310014, China
  • c School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
  • d School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
  • e Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) postdoctoral fellow at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTPNC 27709, United States
  • f Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, United States
  • g School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
  • h Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
  • i Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China, Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement/Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives–CNRS–Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, F-91191, France
  • j Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
  • k School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
  • l Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
  • m School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
  • n Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510631, China
  • o Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China

Abstract

In China, rural migrant workers (RMWs) are employed in urban workplaces but receive minimal resources and welfare. Their residential energy use mix (REM) and pollutant emission profiles are different from those of traditional urban (URs) and rural residents (RRs). Their migration towards urban areas plays an important role in shaping the magnitudes and spatial patterns of pollutant emissions, ambient PM2.5 (fine particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5 μm) concentrations, and associated health impacts in both urban and rural areas. Here we evaluate the impacts of RMW migration on REM pollutant emissions, ambient PM2.5, and subsequent premature deaths across China. At the national scale, RMW migration benefits ambient air quality because RMWs tend to transition to a cleaner REM upon arrival at urban areas—though not as clean as urban residents'. In 2010, RMW migration led to a decrease of 1.5 μg/m3 in ambient PM2.5 exposure concentrations (Cex) averaged across China and a subsequent decrease of 12,200 (5700 to 16,300, as 90% confidence interval) in premature deaths from exposure to ambient PM2.5. Despite the overall health benefit, large-scale cross-province migration increased megacities' PM2.5 levels by as much as 10 μg/m3 due to massive RMW inflows. Model simulations show that upgrading within-city RMWs' REMs can effectively offset the RMW-induced PM2.5 increase in megacities, and that policies that properly navigate migration directions may have potential for balancing the economic growth against ambient air quality deterioration. Our study indicates the urgency of considering air pollution impacts into migration-related policy formation in the context of rapid urbanization in China. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd

Author Keywords

Rural migrant works Ambient air pollution Particulate matter Urbanization in China Human health

Index Keywords

China rural area human health Human Migration economics population density human ambient air rural population statistics and numerical data controlled study priority journal housing Urbanization pollution exposure concentration (parameters) health migrant worker Humans air pollution health impact health impact assessment environmental impact environmental exposure particulate matter Cities gross national product Air Pollutants air pollutant Article Rural areas Fine particulate matter city Ambient air pollution Residential energy consumption Exposure concentration Air navigation Particles (particulate matter) migration Urban and rural areas Urbanization in China premature mortality simulation residential energy energy use Mortality, Premature Energy utilization Air cleaners emission Air quality Transients and Migrants quantitative analysis atmospheric pollution public health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85041326646&doi=10.1016%2fj.envint.2017.11.033&partnerID=40&md5=99b598f72ed9aff77c1c407f64c70680
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.11.033
ISSN: 01604120
Cited by: 5
Original Language: English