OECD members - 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 OECD members was 14.53 as of 2017. As the graph below shows, over the past 27 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 17.35 in 1990 and a minimum value of 14.49 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 17.35
1995 16.96
2000 17.04
2005 17.05
2010 17.15
2011 17.28
2012 16.32
2013 16.08
2014 15.35
2015 15.46
2016 14.49
2017 14.53

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 OECD members was 60.77 as of 2017. Its highest value over the past 27 years was 80.57 in 1990, while its lowest value was 60.67 in 2016.

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 80.57
1995 79.25
2000 78.35
2005 78.70
2010 76.79
2011 79.54
2012 73.11
2013 70.56
2014 66.15
2015 65.65
2016 60.67
2017 60.77

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Emissions