Influence of Urbanization on the Spatial Distribution of Associations Between Air Pollution and Mortality in Beijing, China

This study investigated the influence of urbanization on the intra‐city spatial distribution of associations between air pollution and mortality in Beijing, China. First, we utilized the generalized additive model to establish the exposure‐response associations of PM(2.5), O(3), with nonaccidental and cardiorespiratory mortality between urban and suburban areas. Second, we assessed district‐specific air pollution‐related mortality and analyzed how these associations were affected by the degree of urbanization. Finally, we analyzed the changes in air pollution‐related mortality before and after the enforcement of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (referred to as the Action Plan). The effect estimates of PM(2.5) for nonaccidental mortality were 0.20% (95% CI: 0.12–0.28) in urban areas and 0.46% (95% CI: 0.35–0.58) in suburban areas per 10 μg/m(3) increase in PM(2.5) concentrations. The corresponding estimates of O(3) were 0.13% (95% CI: −0.04–0.29) in urban areas and 0.34% (95% CI: 0.12–0.56) in suburban areas per 10 μg/m(3) increase in O(3) concentrations; however, the difference between the estimates of O(3) in urban and suburban areas was not statistically significant. The district‐specific results suggested that the estimated risks increased along with urban vulnerability levels for the effects of PM(2.5). Implementing the Action Plan reduced the mortality risks of PM(2.5), but the risks of O(3) increased in some districts. However, the difference in the estimates between the pre‐ and post‐emission reductions was not statistically significant. Our study indicated that populations living in less urbanized areas are more vulnerable to the adverse effects of air pollution in Beijing, particularly for PM(2.5).