Drivers of Regional Air Pollution Health Burdens from Long-Term Exposure to PM2.5, O3, and NO2.

Exposure to PM2.5, O3 and NO2 is responsible for a multitude of health impacts in urban areas worldwide, including premature death and asthma incidence. Here we examine the sources that contribute the air pollution health burden in individual cities and countries around the word. Atmospheric modeling combined with satellite remote sensing is used to estimate exposure, while adjoint sensitivity analysis is used to quantify the contributions of emissions from different sectors, species, and locations to the exposure. We focus on the role of emissions both within the exposure region as well as contributions from upwind emissions in surrounding counties, states, and countries. We examine how emissions contributions vary in time and space, and make recommendations regarding emissions controls that would be most effective at reducing the air pollution health burden. These studies encompass a dozen major US cities, countries within Europe, Santiago Chile, South Korea, and Shanghai.