ABSTRACT
Rapid urbanization in China has increasingly impacted on the environment and health of the growing urban population. Perhaps most visible is the smog that blankets the urban landscape. High ambient concentrations of airborne pollutants cause respiratory diseases among urban residents and also contribute to acid rain which damages the ecosystems beyond urban areas. This study uses emission data collected in two cities to analyze pollution dispersion. Spatial models are developed to estimate population exposure 326to ambient concentrations of sulfate, a fine particulate most damaging to human health, and to assess the impact of acid deposition on the ecosystems surrounding urban areas. The results show that the health costs are an order of magnitude larger than the damage to crops and forests. Policy implications are explored by evaluating the benefits and costs of alternative pollution control options.
