Source-specific impacts of PM2.5 on mortality in the Greater Metropolitan Region of Sydney, Australia

Abstract

PDS 76: Source specific outdoor air pollution studies, Exhibition Hall (PDS), Ground floor, August 26, 2019, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Background: Quantifying the health impacts of air pollution sources is important for policy making as interventions to reduce air pollution are generally source-specific. We assessed the impact on mortality of major sources of particulate air pollution less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter (PM2.5) in Sydney, Australia. Methods: We used a Chemical Transport Model (CTM) to estimate source specific exposure to primary and secondary PM2.5 for the year July 2010 to June 2011. Health Impact Assessment methods were used to estimate the burden of attributable mortality from PM2.5 as well as the number of life-years that would be gained if emissions from major sources were reduced. Results: Wood heaters were the largest source of PM2.5 exposure, responsible for around 24% of total anthropogenic PM2.5 while on-road sources were responsible for 17% of anthropogenic PM2.5. Around 1.2% (5,900 YLL) of all mortality was attributable to long term exposure to all sources of anthropogenic PM2.5 and of this, 0.3% (1,400 YLL) was attributable to wood heater–related PM2.5, with 0.2% (990 YLL) attributable to on-road sources and 0.1% (620 YLL) attributable to power stations. Compared to ongoing emissions at 2010/11 levels a sustained reduction in emissions from wood heaters that complied with a certified emission standard of 1.5 grams of particles per kilogram of wood burned would produce an estimated 90,000 life-years among the cohort of people alive in 2010/11. Conclusions: Eight sources are responsible for more than 60% of exposure to anthropogenic PM2.5 in Sydney, Australia. While the burden of mortality attributable to each PM2.5 source is relatively small, interventions that achieve sustained reductions in emissions from these sources, particularly wood heater, could provide substantial health benefits in Sydney that are likely to outweigh costs.