South Africa - 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 South Africa was 25.10 as of 2017. As the graph below shows, over the past 27 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 27.14 in 2010 and a minimum value of 25.10 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 26.12
1995 26.29
2000 26.67
2005 26.32
2010 27.14
2011 26.56
2012 26.58
2013 26.73
2014 26.72
2015 26.11
2016 25.14
2017 25.10

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 South Africa was 6.24 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 20.05 in 2010, while its lowest value was 6.16 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 12.34
1995 13.90
2000 16.97
2005 15.55
2010 20.05
2011 18.16
2012 18.85
2013 16.88
2014 16.44
2015 12.83
2016 6.16
2017 6.24

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 South Africa was 42.48 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 50.44 in 2014, while its lowest value was 42.23 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 47.31
1995 48.44
2000 48.50
2005 45.72
2010 50.05
2011 48.95
2012 47.56
2013 50.17
2014 50.44
2015 46.09
2016 42.23
2017 42.48

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 South Africa was 99.87 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 99.92 in 1990, while its lowest value was 99.86 in 2000.

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 99.92
1995 99.90
2000 99.86
2005 99.86
2010 99.87
2011 99.87
2012 99.87
2013 99.87
2014 99.87
2015 99.87
2016 99.87
2017 99.87

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 South Africa was 100.00 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 100.00 in 2017, while its lowest value was 100.00 in 1990.

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