Title: Mean annual population exposure to atmospheric particulate matter in Poland

Authors: Małgorzata Werner; Maciej Kryza; Anthony J. Dore

Addresses: Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wrocław, ul. Kosiby 8, 51-521 Wrocław, Poland ' Department of Climatology and Atmosphere Protection, University of Wrocław, ul. Kosiby 8, 51-521 Wrocław, Poland ' Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 OQB, UK

Abstract: The main aim of this study is to provide information about the number of people exposed to different levels of the total mean PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 concentration and to calculate population weighted concentration both as a total value (for PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) and for individual chemical species. The study area is Poland for the year 2007. The concentration of particulate matters was provided with the fine resolution atmospheric multi-pollutant exchange (FRAME) model with a 5 km × 5 km spatial resolution. The FRAME simulations included anthropogenic emissions, as well as sea salt aerosol and wind blown dust. We have found that the entire population is exposed to PM_2.5 concentration above 5.0 μg m⁻³, which is suggested to have an adverse impact on human health. Primary particulate matter has the highest contribution in total PM₁₀and PM_2.5 population weighted concentration and is followed by secondary inorganic aerosols.

Keywords: PM10; PM2.5; particulate matter; population exposure; fine resolution atmospheric multi-pollutant exchange; FRAME; Poland; air pollution; air quality; health impacts; aerosols.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2015.076586

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2015 Vol.58 No.1/2, pp.89 - 99

Received: 26 Dec 2014
Accepted: 07 Oct 2015
Published online: 16 May 2016 *

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