Assessment of black carbon exposure level and health economic loss in China.

ABSTRACT

Based on the geographic information system (GIS) software and the application of the black carbon (BC) and fine particulate matter ([Formula see text]) ratio method, this paper analyzed and calculated the national BC distribution from 2015 to 2017 and evaluated the national human exposure to BC. The results showed that from 2015 to 2017, 2/3 of the national land area and nearly half of the population were exposed to 1-3 [Formula see text], and the area and population exposed to a concentration less than 2 [Formula see text] increased yearly, while the area and population exposed to a concentration higher than 9 [Formula see text] decreased yearly. The estimated economic loss showed that 77.3% of the targeted districts or counties claimed a loss per square kilometer of 50 million Chinese Yuan (CNY) or less from the perspective of annual changes, and districts and counties in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Hunan with annual losses between 50 and 500 million CNY showed an increasing trend. The BC ratio (the proportion of BC economic loss to GDP) of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Hunan also showed an increasing trend yearly.