Australia - 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 Australia was 8.55 as of 2017. As the graph below shows, over the past 27 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 11.05 in 2011 and a minimum value of 8.55 in 2017.

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 10.41
1995 10.43
2000 10.84
2005 10.60
2010 10.62
2011 11.05
2012 10.54
2013 9.99
2014 9.49
2015 9.32
2016 8.61
2017 8.55

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 Australia was 0.000 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 0.000 in 2017, while its lowest value was 0.000 in 1990.

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 0.000
1995 0.000
2000 0.000
2005 0.000
2010 0.000
2011 0.000
2012 0.000
2013 0.000
2014 0.000
2015 0.000
2016 0.000
2017 0.000

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 Australia was 0.000 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 0.370 in 2015, while its lowest value was 0.000 in 2016.

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 0.271
1995 0.269
2000 0.370
2005 0.370
2010 0.370
2011 0.370
2012 0.370
2013 0.370
2014 0.370
2015 0.370
2016 0.000
2017 0.000

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 Australia was 9.22 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 20.32 in 2011, while its lowest value was 9.22 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 18.87
1995 18.77
2000 19.40
2005 18.24
2010 18.94
2011 20.32
2012 18.24
2013 16.84
2014 14.31
2015 13.62
2016 9.22
2017 9.22

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 Australia was 24.89 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 36.32 in 2011, while its lowest value was 24.89 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 31.88
1995 31.61
2000 33.83
2005 33.49
2010 32.97
2011 36.32
2012 30.65
2013 28.27
2014 27.11
2015 26.05
2016 24.90
2017 24.89

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Emissions