Xu Q, Wang L, Hou H, Han Z, Xue W. Does environmental regulation lessen health risks? Evidence from Chinese cities.
Front Public Health 2024;
11:1322666. [PMID:
38274518 PMCID:
PMC10809845 DOI:
10.3389/fpubh.2023.1322666]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction
Atmospheric pollution is a severe problem confronting the world today, endangering not only natural ecosystem equilibrium but also human life and health. As a result, governments have enacted environmental regulations to minimize pollutant emissions, enhance air quality and protect public health. In this setting, it is critical to explore the health implications of environmental regulation.
Methods
Based on city panel data from 2009 to 2020, the influence of environmental regulatory intensity on health risks in China is examined in this study.
Results
It is discovered that enhanced environmental regulation significantly reduces health risks in cities, with each 1-unit increase in the degree of environmental regulation lowering the total number of local premature deaths from stroke, ischemic heart disease, and lung cancer by approximately 15.4%, a finding that remains true after multiple robustness tests. Furthermore, advances in science and technology are shown to boost the health benefits from environmental regulation. We also discover that inland cities, southern cities, and non-low-carbon pilot cities benefit more from environmental regulation.
Discussion
The results of this research can serve as a theoretical and empirical foundation for comprehending the social welfare consequences of environmental regulation and for guiding environmental regulation decision-making.
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