Database on source apportionment studies for particulate matter

Particulate matter (PM) in the air can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the body systematically, affecting the cardiovascular and other major organ systems. Chronic exposure to particulate matter leads to increased risks of pre-mature mortality from heart attack, stroke, respiratory infections, and lung cancer. Measurements of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5, i.e. particles with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 or 2.5 micrometers respectively, serve as indicators of air quality.

For reducing health impacts from air pollution, it is important to know what sources (e.g. transportation, power generation) contribute to human exposure, and by how much. The source apportionment database is a systematic collection of available source apportionment studies on particulate matter in from cities all over the world.

A detailed description of the database is available in the “Notes” worksheet of the database, and in the article “Contributions to cities’ ambient particulate matter (PM): a systematic review of local source contributions at global level”

This database was developed in cooperation with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission in Ispra, Italy.