Last update of indicator22.12.2022
Pollution exposure (exposure) means the estimate of the average number of persons present in the monitored area at the time of exceeding the limit value for the pollutant, in this case for the PM2.5 airborne dust fractions.
The average annual exposure to PM2.5 in the Slovak Republic in 2019 was at the level of 18.5 ug/m3, while its development has been approximately slightly declining since 2000, stagnating to slightly increasing in recent years. It is the average annual value of the concentration to which the population is exposed within the monitored area. The WHO set the highest interim PM2.5 target value above 35 ug/m3 and the interim targets were also re-evaluated for individual lower PM2.5 levels (see table below). In 2015, the entire population of the Slovak Republic lived in areas with a concentration lower than this maximum target value. In 2019, 1.6% of the population was exposed to the highest tolerated concentration of 25-35 ug/m3. 98.3% of the population was exposed to concentrations in the range of 15-25 ug/m3. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has the potentially most serious adverse health effects compared to other pollutants. Due to their size up to 2.5 µm, they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems, including respiratory complications and cardiovascular disease. The WHO Air Quality Guideline was developed on the basis of scientific evidence and expert advice. This Guideline was first published in 1987 and updated in 1997 and 2005. The interim targets for annual average concentrations of PM2.5 under current legislation are set out in the following table:
| Interim target-1 | PM2,5 (µg/m3) | |
| IT-1 | 35 | These levels are associated with about a 15% higher long-term mortality risk relative to the AQG level |
| IT-2 | 25 | In addition to other health benefits, these levels lower the risk of premature mortality by approximately 6% (2–11%) relative to the IT-1 level |
| IT-3 | 15 | In addition to other health benefits, these levels reduce the mortality risk by approximately 6% (2–11%) relative to the IT-2 level |
| AQG | 10 | These are the lowest levels at which total, cardiopulmonary, and lung cancer mortality have been shown to increase with more than 95% confidence in response to long-term exposure to PM2.5 |
Source: WHO