Impact of aircraft CO, NO2, and SO2 emissions on public health in Chinese airports

Abstract

Background The rapid development of China’s civil aviation industry has resulted in a greater impact of aircraft emissions on the public health of residents living near airports. Despite attention given to aviation-related environmental issues, research on the health effects of aircraft-related CO, NO2, and SO2 emissions remains limited. We aimed to fill this gap by examining the health impacts of these pollutants on populations surrounding airports in China. Methods We collected basic flight takeoff and landing information from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and calculated the NO2, CO, and SO2 concentrations at each airport using the Gaussian diffusion model. We also calculated the premature deaths caused by NO2, CO, and SO2 emissions at each airport using the Global Mortality Model and population data near the airports. Results In our sample, CO, NO2, and SO2 emissions were associated with a higher attributable mortality burden in men than in women, and a greater burden is observed among older age groups. Among the three pollutants, CO accounts for the largest number of respiratory disease deaths. Lastly, we observed the highest number of attributable deaths in 2019. Conclusions Our findings give new insights into the relationship between aircraft pollutant emissions and health outcomes in China, and thus provides a valuable reference for future research and policy formulation on how aviation impacts public health.