Mortality from different PM2.5 sources in Sydney between 2010 – 2011, an exposure modelling study – 2020

– Applied a consistent framework to model impacts of PM2.5 from eight major sources in Greater Metropolitan Region of Sydney for the year July 2010-June 2011
– Estimated the burden of current mortality attributable to this sources and number of life-years that would be produced if emissions from largest sources were reduced
– Wood heaters were the most important source of PM2.5 exposure, responsible for around 24% of the PM2.5 concentration. Followed by on-road sources (16.9%) and power stations (10.5%).
– Assumes a real-world emissions factor of 11.4 g of PM2.5 per kg of wood burned
– 50% ambient PM2.5 was from wood heaters, on-road sources and power stations.
– Wood heaters were the most important source, responsible for 1,400 YLL annually.
– Around 1.2% of mortality (5,900 YLL) was attributable to long-term exposure to all anthropogenic PM2.5, including 0.3% (1,400 YLL) attributable to wood heater–related PM2.5, 0.2% (990 YLL) to on-road sources and 0.1% (620 YLL) to power stations.
– Introduction of a 1.5 g/kg standard for wood heaters could produce 90,000 life-years.
– Estimated that if there was a sustained reduction in emissions from wood heaters due to the introductions of emissions standards of 1.5g of PM2.5 per kilogram of wood burned, this would produce 90,000 life years among the people alive in 2010/11.
– Although the burden of mortality attributable to each source is relatively small, interventions that achieve sustained reductions in emissions could provide substantial health benefits, which are likely to far outweigh the costs.