Comparison of the risk perception and warning response to air pollution on an individual level in China

¹ China Transport Telecommunications & Information Center, Beijing 100011, People’s Republic of China
² National Engineering Laboratory of Transportation Safety & Emergency Informatics, Beijing 100011, People’s Republic of China

^* Corresponding author: wangfangping@cttic.cn

Abstract

Individual responses to China’s heavy air pollution early warning are poorly understood. This knowledge gap has hampered the evaluation and improvement of the early warning system in providing the targeted populations with effective protection guidance. In order to explore the public’s response to air pollution warning, field survey were conducted in three major cities of China in 2016. The results indicated that different levels of air pollution warnings were correctly understood in these three cities, but the warning response rate was low. Significant differences in the public’s risk perception were demonstrated. Public perception of the health impacts of air pollution (HEP) and knowledge of the warning index (AQI) were significantly higher in Beijing than in Shenzhen. The public perception of the pollution level (DEVIATION) was equal in Beijing and Shenzhen, but higher than that in Shanghai. Gender, education, and risk perception were crucial factors influencing the public’s willingness to respond to warnings. Early warning policymakers can use this research to optimize the design and dissemination of early warning information to improve the public’s health and quality of life in cities with air pollution.