An assessment of China's PM10-related health economic losses in 2009.

Using GIS software and based on exposure-response functions, this paper estimated the health-related economic losses that China suffered in 2009 due to the presence of particulate matter (PM(10)). The results show that China suffered a health-related economic loss due to PM(10) of US$ 106.5 billion, or 2.1% of China's GDP, for the year 2009. Some urban areas, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, and Changsha, reported large health-related economic losses due to PM(10), with a value of US$ 1.5 million per square kilometre or greater. Some parts of Beijing, Ji'nan, and Chongqing reported health-related economic losses due to PM(10) as being greater than 4% of the 2009 GDP.