Air Pollution and Respiratory Health: A Comparative Review of Beijing and London

Air pollution poses a significant threat to global public health, especially harmful to the respiratory system. Beijing and London, as two representative cities, have adopted different strategies to manage air pollution. This paper focuses on the differences between the two cities in terms of pollution structure, health impacts, policies, and outcomes. The study finds that Beijing mainly uses centralized control and total emission reduction, which has effectively lowered PM2.5levels in a short time. In contrast, London emphasizes system building, public participation, and social fairness, leading to a steady decline in NO2levels through long-term policies, with more attention to vulnerable groups. This paper compares the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches and points out that fairness, sustainability, and the complex sources of pollution remain key challenges. The study offers useful insights into how different policy models affect air pollution control and public health, and suggests future directions for research on multi-source pollution, long-term health effects, and policy equity.