Ambient PM2.5 Reduces Global and Regional Life Expectancy

Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution is a major risk for premature death. Here, we systematically quantify the global impact of PM2.5 on life expectancy. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease project and actuarial standard life table methods, we estimate global and national decrements in life expectancy that can be attributed to ambient PM2.5 for 185 countries. In 2016, PM2.5 exposure reduced average global life expectancy at birth by ∼1 year with reductions of ∼1.2–1.9 years in polluted countries of Asia and Africa. If PM2.5 in all countries met the World Health Organization Air Quality Guideline (10 μg m–3), we estimate life expectancy could increase by a population-weighted median of 0.6 year (interquartile range of 0.2–1.0 year), a benefit of a magnitude similar to that of eradicating lung and breast cancer. Because background disease rates modulate the effect of air pollution on life expectancy, high age-specific rates of cardiovascular disease in many polluted low- and middle-income countries amplify the impact of PM2.5 on survival. Our analysis adds to prior research by illustrating how mortality from air pollution substantially reduces human longevity.暴露于环境细颗粒物（PM2.5）空气污染是引发过早死亡的主要风险因素。本研究系统性量化了PM2.5对全球预期寿命的影响。依托全球疾病负担（Global Burden of Disease）项目数据与精算标准寿命表方法，本研究估算了185个国家因环境PM2.5污染所导致的全球及各国预期寿命损失。2016年，PM2.5暴露使全球出生时平均预期寿命降低约1年，而亚洲、非洲的污染国家该降幅达1.2~1.9年。若所有国家的PM2.5浓度均达到世界卫生组织（WHO）空气质量指南标准（10 μg·m⁻³），据估算全球预期寿命将按人口加权的中位数提升0.6年（四分位距为0.2~1.0年），其健康收益规模与根除肺癌和乳腺癌的收益相当。由于基础疾病发病率会调节空气污染对预期寿命的影响，许多受污染的中低收入国家存在较高的年龄别心血管疾病发病率，这进一步放大了PM2.5对人群生存的负面影响。本研究通过揭示空气污染致死如何大幅缩短人类寿命，补充了此前的相关研究成果。