Particulate pollution in Asia - Part 1: multi-pollutant modeling of sources, contributions, & health impacts
Asia's increasing population and economic growth has meant that the energy demand is doubling every 10 years, which is more than twice the world average, resulting in an increased risk of human exposure to higher air pollution from fossil fuel burning. In countries, where more than third of the population lives in the urban areas, where industry accounts for more than third of GDP, the estimates of environmental costs dominated the damage to health, agricultural production, and natural resources caused by air and water pollution. Air quality related health costs in urban China exceeded 20 percent of the urban income. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the total pollution levels and composition of fine and coarse PM in Asia and aims to identify the information needed for a sound assessment of the impact of PM pollution on public health. Also, to develop a broader perspective of understanding the air pollution mixture in Asia, that might affect the regulations and policy at the various levels.