Greenspace availability or greenspace usability, which matters on PM2.5-related premature deaths: evidence from 360 cities in China

Greenspace exposure is confirmed to reduce air pollution-related negative health impact. However, which type of greenspace exposure matters more on mitigating air pollution-related deaths and whether this effect is regionally different remain unclear. Here we show, greenspace usability exposure plays a more significant role in mitigating PM 2.5 -related premature deaths in 360 China cities generally speaking. By clustering 360 cities into urban-rural and Deprivation Index groups, we further find that greenspace availability and usability together work on respiratory health in rural regions, and greenspace availability matters more in very low deprived areas or urban and rural regions. Our results that increasing greenspace usability exposure is more helpful in reducing air pollution-related premature deaths may inform more effective and equitable greenspace planning policies in rapidly developing countries like China.