Reversal of trends in global fine particulate matter air pollution

Chi Li, Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA. chili@wustl.edu.
Aaron van Donkelaar, Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Melanie S. Hammer, Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Erin E. McDuffie, Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Richard T. Burnett, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Joseph V. Spadaro, Spadaro Environmental Research Consultants (SERC), Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Deepangsu Chatterjee, Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Aaron J. Cohen, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Joshua S. Apte, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Veronica A. Southerland, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Susan C. Anenberg, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Michael Brauer, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Randall V. Martin, Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

9-2-2023

Journal

Nature communications

Volume

14

Issue

1

DOI

10.1038/s41467-023-41086-z

Abstract

Ambient fine particulate matter (PM) is the world's leading environmental health risk factor. Quantification is needed of regional contributions to changes in global PM exposure. Here we interpret satellite-derived PM estimates over 1998-2019 and find a reversal of previous growth in global PM air pollution, which is quantitatively attributed to contributions from 13 regions. Global population-weighted (PW) PM exposure, related to both pollution levels and population size, increased from 1998 (28.3 μg/m) to a peak in 2011 (38.9 μg/m) and decreased steadily afterwards (34.7 μg/m in 2019). Post-2011 change was related to exposure reduction in China and slowed exposure growth in other regions (especially South Asia, the Middle East and Africa). The post-2011 exposure reduction contributes to stagnation of growth in global PM-attributable mortality and increasing health benefits per µg/m marginal reduction in exposure, implying increasing urgency and benefits of PM mitigation with aging population and cleaner air.

Department

Environmental and Occupational Health

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