Particulate matter (PM) comprises solid and liquid particles in the air. PM10 particles have a diameter less than 10 micrometres. Coarse particles (2.5–10 micrometres) can be inhaled – they generally deposit in the upper airways; fine particles (smaller than 2.5 micrometres) can deposit deep in the lungs where air-gas exchange occurs.
Since PM10 is small enough to be inhaled, exposure can cause cardiovascular and respiratory health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, lung cancer, and premature death. It can also aggravate asthma and has been linked with diabetes. Children, the elderly, and people with existing heart or lung issues have a higher risk of health problems from exposure to PM10. These problems include decreased lung function, heart attack, and mortality.
This dataset reports on the seasonal trends assessed for the period 2011-2020.
More information on this dataset and how it relates to our environmental reporting indicators and topics can be found in the attached data quality pdf.
