2025/06/27 by Simon Rosanka, Annmarie G. Carlton · 1 voice
Environmental Science · #Air Quality and Health Impacts
paper · pdf · doi:10.1038/s44407-025-00017-6
openalex publication_date 2025/06/27 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/03
Globally, chronic and acute exposures to elevated concentrations of ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) represent a significant risk factor for non-communicable diseases and increased premature mortality. Typical morbidities include chronic rhinosinusitis, respiratory diseases, and worsening cardiovascular health due to oxidative stress and systematic inflammation 1 . PM 2.5 mass is associated with cognitive decline as well as neurological dysfunction, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and autism spectrum disorder 2 , 3 . The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presently sets health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM 2.5 at values of 9 μg m −3 for the annual average, and 35 μg m −3 for the daily 24-hour average. World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for PM 2.5 are more stringent. The WHO recommends that the ambient annual average mass concentration not exceed 5 μg m −3 and the 24-hour average not exceed 15 μg m −3 . In reality, there is no documented safe level for PM 2.5 exposure.