China's Air Pollution and its Impact on Expats

With its rich historical heritage, China attracts more and more visitors & expats from around the globe. However, in recent years, due to its fast growth in economies and industrialization, environmental issues – especially air quality – has raised a broader concern for tourists and expats in China. Many major cities have been affected by smog. In this article, we will discuss China’s air quality situation and how it will impact expats relocating to China.

China’s Air Quality Study

According to a new study of air quality in five major cities by a team of researchers at Peking University, Guanghua School of Management, among Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shenyang, the most favorable city is Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, next to Hong Kong. The second best is Shanghai. Actually, based on the statistical report, expats relocating to China would want to settle in the Southern area to minimize exposure to polluted air.

The reason why Guangzhou and Shanghai are better is that they are closer to the sea and have more rainfall, according to Mr. Chen Songxi, a statistician at Peking University. He recommends the government cut down emissions.

Beijing has some of the worst pollution problems in China. This is because this exciting and crowded city has more than five million motor vehicles along with a heavy manufacturing and coal power plant presence. Though strong north winds during the fall and winter help clear the air, that still doesn’t address the source of the problem – car emissions, heavy industry, and power stations,

In addition, Beijing often experiences sandstorms during Springtime, which can make air quality even worse. The skyline can turn orange due to the sandy weather. Pedestrians often have to wear masks to protect themselves from the dust.

Health Impacts of Smog on Expatriate’s Health

Some expats are refusing work assignments in some Chinese cities because of the high rate of pollution. Here are some health impacts for locals and expats residing in highly polluted cities:

Air pollution can impact food safety in China, likely because of smog can inhibit photosynthesis in plants
Expats with pre-existing medical conditions can have their medical health impacted by air pollution, especially those with asthma or COPD
Children, elderly and children are more susceptible to the impact of pollution
Air pollution can irritate your eyes and lungs
Decreased lifespan caused by the increased chance of conditions such as bronchitis or even cancer
Decreased lung function

If you are concerned, check with your doctor on how you can mitigate the impact of China’s air pollution if you are going to become an expat there. Also check for the available healthcare system in China.

Will high pollution levels make expats think twice before moving to China?

One of the largest considerations for expatriates thinking of moving to China is the prevalence of hazardous levels of air pollution in the city centers, especially in Beijing. Recently in both 2016 and early 2017, there have been extreme pollution levels that make going outside hazardous for your health. This is a big concern for expatriates, especially those with families. Some expats will want to choose an expat assignment in a Chinese city with the lowest air pollution levels. A city near the ocean is an obvious choice.

What You Can Do

The Chinese government has been working hard to solve air pollution issues and is making some progress. In the meantime, expats residing in China would want to look at the following tips in order to stay healthy and safe:

Check the weather report often, so that you can be more careful when choosing to go outdoors
Purchase green plants for your home or your office help with air purifying
If smog levels are high, wear masks when going outdoors. You can buy masks at convenient store and supermarkets, but make sure you invest in a high quality mask with a high pollution blocking rating
If there are severe air pollution warnings, don’t go outside if possible.
Think about moving to a city in China that has less air pollution

Bring International Health Insurance

Air pollution can severely impact your health if you are living in China, which is another reason to maintain a global medical plan. If you plan to stay in China to work and live there for some time, it is strongly suggested that you obtain quality expat health insurance. With the current air pollution situation in China, you will want to protect yourself and your family from health-related issues. Although in many major cities there are some satisfactory public hospitals for expats to choose from, the method of payment and the quality of medical treatment may be inadequate.

For the popular choice of foreign-run hospitals, expats are usually required to make payment in advance before receiving medical treatment. It can be very expensive for emergency treatment and medications in most of the international hospitals. You may want to get an out-patient medical option in your health coverage if you are going to live in a city with smog as you may have to visit your doctor more often.

With a comprehensive expat health insurance plan, you and your family can be covered for medical expenses, hospitalization and treatments, medicines and emergency evacuations. If you are going for a short visit to China, then most people will purchase travel medical insurance for up to one year. Some Chinese embassies require proof of health insurance before issuing visas especially if you are a foreign student. If you are planning to reside in China, it is critical that you purchase an international health insurance plan that will not only cover you in China but globally as well – including back home.

Expat Financial offers several different international health insurance plans for expatriates of any nationality across the world. We also offer excellent service before and after you purchase your international health insurance plan. Our firm is also very experienced in sourcing group plans for multinational firms with expats in China. If you have questions about our international medical insurance plans or you want to discuss your unique needs and produce a customized expat quote, please contact us or complete the quote form.