Air Pollution, Indoor Temperature, and Health Impacts of the Beijing Coal Ban and Heating Stove Replacement

Over 400 million homes in China burn coal to meet indoor heating requirements, exposing individuals to air pollution in their homes and contributing to poor ambient air quality. Exposure to air pollution is associated with excess morbidity and mortality, but few studies have assessed the impact of interventions that reduce air pollution. Recently, the Beijing Government announced a ban on coal use, offering a subsidy to transition to a cleaner heating technology. The stepped implementation of this policy program provides a unique opportunity for evaluation. Our research will assess the program’s impact on:

(1) Community and personal air pollution exposures
(2) Indoor temperatures in homes
(3) Respiratory symptoms and cardiovascular outcomes

Evaluation of this air pollution intervention is important to inform the planned expansion of this policy in China and similar policies abroad.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sam Harper

Student:

Partner:

Peking University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University: