Reversal of trends in global fine particulate matter air pollution

Authors

• 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.

APA Citation

Li, Chi; van Donkelaar, Aaron; Hammer, Melanie S.; McDuffie, Erin E.; Burnett, Richard T.; Spadaro, Joseph V.; Chatterjee, Deepangsu; Cohen, Aaron J.; Apte, Joshua S.; Southerland, Veronica A.; Anenberg, Susan C.; Brauer, Michael; and Martin, Randall V., "Reversal of trends in global fine particulate matter air pollution" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 3459.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/3459

Department

Environmental and Occupational Health