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Abstract:
Air pollution is an important environmental risk factor associated with increased morbidity
and excess mortality. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a complex mixture of both organic and
inorganic compounds, depending on emissions sources and atmospheric chemistry. According to
toxicological studies, there is strong evidence that anthropogenic carbonaceous aerosols, especially
those emitted from combustion sources, are more hazardous to human health than other types of fine
particles. In this study, we use WRF-Chem to simulate PM2.5 and the carbonaceous sub-components
(black carbon and organics from anthropogenic sources) over Europe. The excess mortality attributed
to long-term exposure to these particles is quantified using the MR-BRT (meta-Regression–Bayesian,
regularized, trimmed) and the Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM) exposure–response func-
tions to assess the public health outcomes. Differential toxicity of carbonaceous aerosols is assumed
to account for their potentially more pronounced effect on excess mortality.
