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[ZD03] Population exposure to PM₁₀ concentrations in ambient air
Impacts

Key message
Bad

In Slovenia, in 2024, 29% of children (0-14 years old) in larger cities were exposed to concentrations of 0-20 µg PM10/m3 and 71 % of children (0-14 years) in larger cities were exposed to concentrations of 20-30 µg PM10/m3. In Europe, most children live in an environment where PM10 concentrations are below 26 µg/m3. It is a worrying fact that in Slovenia in 2018 about 2% of children were exposed to concentrations between 31 and 40 PM10/m3, and in 2019 as much as 53%, fortunately, concentrations decreased in 2023, but slightly increase in 2024. Children were not exposed to concentrations above 30 µg PM10 / m3  after the year 2018. According to the latest data on hospital admissions of children, admissions due to respiratory diseases represent approximately 20 % of all admissions of children (NIJZ, 2022).

Charts

Figure ZD03-1: Exposure of children (0-14 years old) in Slovenia to exceeded PM10 concentrations, from 2008 to 2021 (WHO recommended air quality level is 15 µg g/m3, the EU limit value is 40 µg/m3 of PM10)
Sources:

SURS, 2024; ARSO (20.10.2025)

Note:

WHO recommended air quality level is 15 µg g/m3, the EU limit value is 40 µg/m3 of PM10

Show data
> 41 µg/m3[%] 31-40 µg/m3[%] 21-30 µg/m3[%] 0-20 µg/m3[%]
2008 3 27 70 0
2009 0 15 85 0
2010 0 28 72 0
2011 0 64 36 0
2012 0 12 88 0
2013 0 1 91 7.50
2014 0 0 88 12
2015 0 9 90.50 0
2016 0 7 83 10
2017 0 0 92 8
2018 0 2 81 17
2019 0 52.87 47.13 0
2020 0 0 100 0
2021 0 0 65 35
2022 0 0 63 37
2023 0 0 45 55
2024 0 0 71 29
Figure ZD03-2: Share of hospitalized children (from 0 to 14 years old) due to respiratory diseases, Slovenia, administrative unit of birth, 2009-2021
Sources:

SURS, 2021; ARSO, 2024 (20/10/2025)

Show data
Ljubljana - children admitted to hospital[No.] Maribor - children admitted to hospital[No.] Celje - children admitted to hospital[No.] Murska Sobota - children admitted to hospital[No.] Nova Gorica - children admitted to hospital[No.] Trbovlje - children admitted to hospital[No.] Zagorje ob Savi - children admitted to hospital[No.] Ljubljana - children in the municipality (1.7.)[No.] Maribor - children in the municipality (1.7.)[No.] Celje - children in the municipality (1.7.)[No.] Murska Sobota - children in the municipality (1.7.)[No.] Nova Gorica - children in the municipality (1.7.)[No.] Trbovlje - children in the municipality (1.7.)[No.] Zagorje ob Savi - children in the municipality (1.7.)[No.] Ljubljana[%] Maribor[%] Celje[%] Murska Sobota[%] Nova Gorica[%] Trbovlje[%] Zagorje ob Savi[%]
2009 1333 669 512 419 308 88 80 46482 17476 8527 7514 7630 2022 2448 2.87 3.83 6.00 5.58 4.04 4.35 3.27
2010 1516 722 490 376 338 70 97 47814 17641 8628 7444 7757 2035 2451 3.17 4.09 5.68 5.05 4.36 3.44 3.96
2011 1378 572 409 377 381 73 74 48909 17821 8692 7357 7831 1997 2461 2.82 3.21 4.71 5.12 4.87 3.66 3.01
2012 1545 521 389 294 333 66 63 49976 17966 8818 7344 7964 1991 2488 3.09 2.90 4.41 4.00 4.18 3.31 2.53
2013 1585 631 445 332 403 69 86 51197 18129 8941 7325 8070 1998 2466 3.10 3.48 4.98 4.53 4.99 3.45 3.49
2014 1694 576 428 384 602 89 105 52327 18520 9121 7293 8131 2017 2462 3.24 3.11 4.69 5.27 7.40 4.41 4.26
2015 1295 466 387 329 500 81 92 52838 18671 9201 7290 8146 2042 2460 2.45 2.50 4.21 4.51 6.14 3.97 3.74
2016 1366 508 343 291 462 83 92 53568 18823 9302 7243 8190 2038 2476 2.55 2.70 3.69 4.02 5.64 4.07 3.72
2017 1264 526 358 315 365 89 94 54303 19205 9418 7244 8256 2041 2467 2.33 2.74 3.80 4.35 4.42 4.36 3.81
2018 1330 482 327 305 335 75 85 55218 19588 9460 7226 8281 2055 2487 2.41 2.46 3.46 4.22 4.05 3.65 3.42
2019 1208 463 276 367 427 66 114 55825 20047 9538 7189 8395 2096 2502 2.16 2.31 2.89 5.11 5.09 3.15 4.56
2020 782 236 155 175 205 47 61 55947 20182 9418 7142 8367 2122 2499 1.40 1.17 1.65 2.45 2.45 2.21 2.44
2021 950 238 218 182 225 54 37 55345 20190 9413 7064 8366 2109 2525 1.70 1.20 2.30 2.60 2.70 2.60 1.50
2022 1112 374 255 302 267 91 105 55338 20227 9393 7037 8317 2096 2500 2 1.80 2.70 4.20 3.20 4.30 4.20
2023 1060 387 224 296 269 65 61 55810 20255 9400 7068 8307 2074 2473 1.90 1.90 2.40 4.10 3.20 3.10 2.50
2024 1144 353 241 289 369 109 110 54609 20106 9387 6909 7941 2053 2420 2.10 1.70 2.60 4.20 4.60 5.30 4.50
Figure ZD03-3: The population weighted annual mean concentration of particulate matter (PM10 ) at urban background stations in agglomerations, EU, 2019
Sources:

European Environment Agency (EEA), 2021 (11/10/2021)

Show data
2019[No] EU27[No]
Belgium 20.40 20.50
Bulgaria 37.30 20.50
Czechia 23.90 20.50
Denmark 15.50 20.50
Germany 17.50 20.50
Estonia 10.50 20.50
Ireland 11.50 20.50
Greece 20.50
Spain 21.90 20.50
France 19.10 20.50
Croatia 35.10 20.50
Italy 29.20 20.50
Cyprus 29.20 20.50
Latvia 17.20 20.50
Lithuania 22.80 20.50
Luxembourg 20.30 20.50
Hungary 26.50 20.50
Malta 20.50
Netherlands 19.20 20.50
Austria 19.20 20.50
Poland 32.20 20.50
Portugal 18.30 20.50
Romania 26.60 20.50
Slovenia 24.80 20.50
Slovakia 24.20 20.50
Finland 10 20.50
Sweden 11.80 20.50
Figure ZD03-4: Urban population exposed to PM10 concentrations exceeding the daily limit value (50 µg/m3 on more than 35 days in a year), 2017-2019
Sources:

European Environment Agency (EEA), 2020 (27/08/2020)

Show data
2015[%] 2016[%] 2017[%] 2018[%] 2019[%]
Belgium 0 0 0 0 0
Bulgaria 77.76 86.22 77.59 65.35 59.94
Czechia 18.67 11.90 31.12 26.84 3.17
Denmark 0 0 0 0 0
Germany 0.26 0.05 0.06 0 0
Estonia 0 0 0 0 0
Ireland 0 0 0 0 0
Greece 4.21 28.64 0 3.09 3.09
Spain 7.04 1.70 1.32 0.06 1.90
France 1.14 0.17 0.39 0.23 0.22
Croatia 85.46 99.08 99.08 99.08 95.04
Italy 57.94 44.04 49.28 34.37 37.90
Cyprus 6.09 6.09 0 6.09 0
Latvia 3.78 3.78 3.78 3.78 3.78
Lithuania 1.90 1.90 0 3.32 1.13
Luxembourg 0 0 0 0 0
Hungary 27.24 2.49 58.88 53.22 2.27
Malta 100 100 100 100 100
Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0
Austria 2.30 2.09 3.77 0.33 0
Poland 80.63 58.70 70.09 82.34 36.42
Portugal 0.64 0 0.89 0 0
Romania 54.37 0 21.55 3.80 10.40
Slovenia 97.98 100 4.81 0 0
Slovakia 5.63 0.65 40.20 2.40 1.53
Finland 0 0 0 0 0
Sweden 0 0 0.16 0.17 0
United Kingdom 0 0 0 0 0
Figure ZD03-5: Path of the particles through the respiratory tract
Sources:

CEHAP, 2004 (27/08/2020)

Show data

Methodology

Other sources and literature

  1. Agencija RS za okolje. Podatki o koncentracijah PM10 za Slovenijo. Zbirke podatkov avtomatskih meritev kakovosti zraka (DMKZ), Urada za hidrologijo in stanje okolja, Agencije RS za okolje. Ljubljana, 2021.
  2. APHECOM, Improving Knowledge and Communication for Decision Making on Air Pollution and Health in Europe, September 23-24 2010, Barcelona.
  3. Asher MI et al. Worldwide time trends in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in childhood: ISAAC Phase One and Three repeat multicountry cross-sectional surveys. Lancet, 2006, 368:733-743.
  4. Auerbach A, Hernandez M L. The effects of environmental oxidative stress on airway inflamation. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012; 12: 133-139.
  5. Brook RD, Franklin B, Cascio W et al. Air pollution and cardiovascular disease: a statement for healthcare professional from the Expert Panel on Population and Prevention Science of the American Heart Association. Circulation 109: 2655-2671 (2004), Simkhovicz BZ, Kleinman MT, Klonet RA, Air pollution and cardiovascular injury epidemiology, toxicology, and mechanisms. J Am Coll Cardiol 52: 719-726.
  6. Brunekreeft Bert. Air pollution and health. The Lancet, vol 360, october 2002 1233 – 1242.
  7. Cohen AJ et al. Urban air pollution. In: Ezzati M et al, eds. Comparative quantification of health risks. Vol.2. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2004:1353-1433.
  8. EEA, 2021. Urban population exposed to PM10 concentrations exceeding the daily limit value 50 µg/m3 on more than 35 days in a year). Luksemburg, European Environmental Agency.
  9. EEA, 2020. Air quality in Europe — 2020 report. Luksemburg, European Environmental Agency. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2020-report
  10. EEA, 2021. Exposure to air pollution by particulate matter. Luksemburg, European Environmental Agency.
  11. Nacionalni Inštitut za varovanje zdravja RS, 2021. Zbirka bolnišničnih obravnav. Ljubljana, NIJZ.
  12. Kim BJ, Hong SJ. Anbient Air pollution and allergic diseases in children.Korean J Pediatr,2012 ;55(6):185-92.
  13. Peters A, Veronesi B, Calderon- Garciduenas L, et al. Translocation and potential  neurological effects of fine and ultrafine particles a critical update. Particle and Fibre Toxicology. 2006; 3: article 13.
  14. Patel M M, Chillrud S N, Deepti K C, et al. Trafic-related air pollutants and exhaled markers of airway inflammation and oxidative stress in New York city adolescents. Environ Res. 2013; 121: 71-78.
  15. Statistični urad RS. Prebivalstvo po izbrani upravni enoti. Stanje po 1.7. Ljubljana, 2021.
  16. WHO, 2004. CEHAP - Children's Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe. Budapest.
  17. WHO. WHO global air quality guidelines. Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Geneva, WHO, 2021.

Last modified
30.10.2025
Author(s)

Simona Perčič and Katarina Bitenc; National Institute of Public Health