In recent years, surface ozone (O
3) pollution has emerged as a significant barrier to the continued improvement of air quality in China, making O
3 risk assessment a critical research priority. Using nationwide O
3 monitoring data, this research investigated the
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In recent years, surface ozone (O
3) pollution has emerged as a significant barrier to the continued improvement of air quality in China, making O
3 risk assessment a critical research priority. Using nationwide O
3 monitoring data, this research investigated the spatial characteristics of O
3 pollution and assessed its potential impacts on human health and crop yields. The results showed that the maximum daily 8 h average O
3 (MDA8 O
3) exhibited higher concentrations in eastern and northern regions, and lower concentrations in the western and southern regions of China. Long-term O
3 exposure was associated with an estimated 175,154 all-cause deaths nationwide, with the highest health risks observed in Shandong, Henan, and Jiangsu provinces. The AOT40 values for the winter wheat and single-rice growing seasons in China were 9.30 × 10
3 ppb·h and 1.29 × 10
4 ppb·h, respectively. Moreover, O
3 exposure led to relative yield losses of 22.1% for winter wheat and 9.3% for single rice, corresponding to crop yield losses (CPLs) of 63 million metric tons and 14 million metric tons, respectively. Higher winter wheat CPL values were primarily concentrated in Henan, Shandong, and Hebei, while higher single rice CPL values were observed in Jiangsu, Hubei, and Anhui. This study presents a novel coupling of O
3 pollution exposure with human health and agricultural risk assessments across China, emphasizing the need for region-specific O
3 management strategies to protect public health and ensure agricultural sustainability. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of targeted O
3 control in densely populated and major crop-producing areas to mitigate health risks and yield losses, thus safeguarding ecosystem health and food security.
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