Mean Annual Population Exposure to Atmospheric Particulate Matter in Poland

The main aim of this study is to provide information about number of people exposed to different levels of the total mean PM10 concentration and to calculate population weighted concentration both as a total value and for individual chemical species (primary particulate matter, secondary aerosols and sea salt aerosol). The study area is Poland for the year 2007. Concentration of PM10 was provided with the Fine Resolution Atmospheric Multi-pollutant Exchange model (FRAME) at a 5 km x 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 PM10 concentration above 5.0 µg m-3, which is suggested to have adverse impact on human health. Total population weighted concentration is higher than average PM10 concentration and equals 14.3 µg m-3. Primary particulate matter has the highest contribution in total population weighted concentration (49%) and is followed by secondary inorganic aerosols.