Honghao Cao’s research while affiliated with Jiangxi Normal University and other places

Regional haze pollution is a serious atmospheric environmental problem in China, it seriously affects residents’ health. This paper uses ArcGIS software to analyse the spatial and temporal distribution maps of haze pollution and residents’ health in China, and empirically examines the spatial non-linear effects of haze pollution on residents’ health by using spatial econometric models and threshold models. The results are shown as follows: First, the level of haze pollution in China is gradually decreasing, and the level of residents’ health is gradually improving. It is worth noting that the areas with high level of haze pollution are mainly located on the southeast side of the Hu line. Coincidentally, the areas with high level of residents’ health are also mainly located in the southeast side of the Hu line. Second, haze pollution has significant spatial spillover effect on residents’ health, with inter-regional spillover effect being much greater than intra-regional spillover effect. Third, economic development increases the health risk from haze pollution, while environmental regulation does not reduce the health risk from haze pollution. The effect of population agglomeration on the health risk from haze pollution shows a trend of improvement followed by deterioration, while the effect of industrial agglomeration on the health risk from haze pollution shows a trend of deterioration followed by improvement. Therefore, this paper provides valuable insights for the ongoing and comprehensive efforts to fight for a blue sky and promote the implementation of the national strategies of “Beautiful China” and “Healthy China”.

At present, air pollution remains a serious environmental issue with extensive attention in China. It may not only cause population outflow but also poses significant threats to residents’ health. Therefore, it has become an imperative initiative to explore the impact of air pollution on the residents’ health. In this paper, we map the spatial distribution of air pollution, population migration, and residents’ health between 2010 and 2020 based on panel data from 31 Chinese provinces. Theoretical analysis and empirical tests are then carried out to investigate the intrinsic logical relationships between the three. The research findings demonstrate the following: (1) Air pollution not only has a direct negative impact on residents’ health, but it also has an indirect impact on residents’ health through the mediating effect of population migration. (2) Air pollution has a significant negative spatial spillover effect on residents’ health, and neighboring residents are at greater health risk of being exposed to air pollution than local residents. (3) Economic development, environmental regulation, and their interaction term exhibit a single threshold effect on the health risk of air pollution. (4) From the perspective of regional heterogeneity, we find that the health risk of air pollution is greater in northern China and the southeast of the Hu Line. This paper provides valuable insights for promoting the implementation of the grand strategies of “Beautiful China” and “Healthy China.”