China - Particle pollution

PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter)

The value for PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure (micrograms per cubic meter) in China was 52.66 as of 2017. As the graph below shows, over the past 27 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 70.54 in 2011 and a minimum value of 52.21 in 2016.

Definition: Population-weighted exposure to ambient PM2.5 pollution is defined as the average level of exposure of a nation's population to concentrations of suspended particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter, which are capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory tract and causing severe health damage. Exposure is calculated by weighting mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 by population in both urban and rural areas.

Source: Brauer, M. et al. 2017, for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

See also:

Year Value
1990 57.77
1995 58.66
2000 60.70
2005 66.17
2010 69.48
2011 70.54
2012 63.83
2013 65.51
2014 59.77
2015 59.06
2016 52.21
2017 52.66

PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim Target-1 value (% of total)

PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim Target-1 value (% of total) in China was 81.24 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 95.43 in 2011, while its lowest value was 81.12 in 2016.

Definition: Percent of population exposed to ambient concentrations of PM2.5 that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) Interim Target 1 (IT-1) is defined as the portion of a country’s population living in places where mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 are greater than 35 micrograms per cubic meter. The Air Quality Guideline (AQG) of 10 micrograms per cubic meter is recommended by the WHO as the lower end of the range of concentrations over which adverse health effects due to PM2.5 exposure have been observed.

Source: Brauer, M. et al. 2017, for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

See also:

Year Value
1990 90.79
1995 90.85
2000 92.24
2005 94.33
2010 94.60
2011 95.43
2012 92.02
2013 91.69
2014 89.78
2015 86.66
2016 81.12
2017 81.24

PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim Target-2 value (% of total)

PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim Target-2 value (% of total) in China was 97.16 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 99.20 in 2011, while its lowest value was 97.16 in 2017.

Definition: Percent of population exposed to ambient concentrations of PM2.5 that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) Interim Target 2 (IT-2) is defined as the portion of a country’s population living in places where mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 are greater than 25 micrograms per cubic meter. The Air Quality Guideline (AQG) of 10 micrograms per cubic meter is recommended by the WHO as the lower end of the range of concentrations over which adverse health effects due to PM2.5 exposure have been observed.

Source: Brauer, M. et al. 2017, for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

See also:

Year Value
1990 98.79
1995 98.78
2000 98.92
2005 98.95
2010 98.98
2011 99.20
2012 98.78
2013 98.74
2014 98.17
2015 97.98
2016 97.18
2017 97.16

PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim Target-3 value (% of total)

PM2.5 pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO Interim Target-3 value (% of total) in China was 99.94 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 99.99 in 2005, while its lowest value was 99.94 in 2017.

Definition: Percent of population exposed to ambient concentrations of PM2.5 that exceed the World Health Organization (WHO) Interim Target 3 (IT-3) is defined as the portion of a country’s population living in places where mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 are greater than 15 micrograms per cubic meter. The Air Quality Guideline (AQG) of 10 micrograms per cubic meter is recommended by the WHO as the lower end of the range of concentrations over which adverse health effects due to PM2.5 exposure have been observed.

Source: Brauer, M. et al. 2017, for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

See also:

Year Value
1990 99.98
1995 99.98
2000 99.98
2005 99.99
2010 99.99
2011 99.99
2012 99.98
2013 99.97
2014 99.96
2015 99.96
2016 99.94
2017 99.94

PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO guideline value (% of total)

PM2.5 air pollution, population exposed to levels exceeding WHO guideline value (% of total) in China was 100.00 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 100.00 in 2011, while its lowest value was 100.00 in 2017.

Definition: Percent of population exposed to ambient concentrations of PM2.5 that exceed the WHO guideline value is defined as the portion of a country’s population living in places where mean annual concentrations of PM2.5 are greater than 10 micrograms per cubic meter, the guideline value recommended by the World Health Organization as the lower end of the range of concentrations over which adverse health effects due to PM2.5 exposure have been observed.

Source: Brauer, M. et al. 2017, for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

See also:

Year Value
1990 100.00
1995 100.00
2000 100.00
2005 100.00
2010 100.00
2011 100.00
2012 100.00
2013 100.00
2014 100.00
2015 100.00
2016 100.00
2017 100.00

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Emissions