A new study of daily ambient-fine particulate matter (PM2.5) across the globe, found that in 2019 only 0.18 percent of the global land area and 0.001 percent of the global population were exposed to levels of particulate matter 2.5μ (PM2.5) below the annual average safety level of 15 μg/m³ recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO).

The term fine particles, or particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), refers to tiny particles or droplets in the air that are two and one half microns (micrometers) or less in width. To put this in perspective, there are about one million micrometers in a meter, or they are about 30 times smaller than the width of human hair. Particles in the PM2.5 size range are capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs.

Exposure to fine particles can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Long term exposure could be associated with increased rates of chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function and increased mortality from lung cancer and heart disease.

A lack of pollution monitoring stations globally for air pollution, has meant a lack of data on local, national, regional and global PM2.5 exposure. The new study, by researchers at Monash University in the United States, aims to overcome this shortcoming by providing a map of how PM2.5 levels have changed across the globe in the past decades.

For their study, the researchers used traditional air quality monitoring observations, satellite-based meteorological and air pollution detectors, statistical and machine learning methods to more accurately assess global surface-level PM2.5 concentrations for the period from 2000-2019, with a focus on areas having above the WHO safe level of 15 μg/m³.

The study reveals that while annual PM2.5 concentration and high PM2.5 exposed days in Europe and northern America decreased over the two decades of the study, exposures increased in southern Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Wide seasonal fluctuations in PM2.5 levels were also observed in different regions during the study period.

In addition, the study found that despite a slight decrease in high PM2.5 exposed days globally, by 2019 more than 70 percent of days in a year still had PM2.5 concentrations higher than 15 μg/m³. In southern Asia and eastern Asia, more than 90 percent of days had daily PM2.5 concentrations higher than 15 μg/m³. Globally, the annual average PM2.5 from 2000 to 2019 was 32.8 μg/m³.

Researchers said their study was important because it provides a deep understanding of the current state of outdoor air pollution and its impacts on human health. With this information, policymakers, public health officials, and researchers can better assess the short-term and long-term health effects of air pollution and develop air pollution mitigation strategies.


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