Air pollution and the burden of long‐term care: Evidence from China
利用中国2011-2018年卫星PM2.5数据与全国代表性追踪调查，发现PM2.5暴露显著增加长期护理时长和费用，对非吸烟者和未经历严重污染者影响更大。
Abstract We examine the causal effects of PM 2.5 exposure on the burden of long‐term care (LTC) by matching a satellite‐based PM 2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers (μm) in diameter) dataset with a nationally representative longitudinal study in China from 2011 to 2018. We find significant adverse effects of PM 2.5 exposure—instrumented by thermal inversions—on the LTC burden. A 10 μg/m 3 increase in annual PM 2.5 exposure increases average monthly hours of LTC and the associated financial costs by 28 h and CNY 452, respectively. The effects are greater for those who had never smoked nor experienced severe PM 2.5 pollution (annual average PM 2.5 > 35 μg/m 3 ) in the previous 5 years. We also find that as PM 2.5 increases, chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, could lead to a higher likelihood of LTC dependency but reduce the total hours and costs of LTC provision. Finally, we find that PM 2.5 reduces the total years of LTC need, suggesting that PM 2.5 increases LTC costs by increasing the severity of LTC dependency, rather than the duration of LTC need. Our findings can assist policymakers in planning for LTC provisions and clean air policies.