In 2018, 1.3% of the total disease burden in Australia was due to air pollution.
These estimates reflect the amount of burden that could have been avoided if all people in Australia were not exposed to particulate matter 2.5μg/m3 (PM2.5).
Air pollution was causally linked to 6 diseases—coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, lung cancer and lower respiratory infections (see ABDS 2018 Risk factor estimates data table).
How much burden was attributable to air pollution?
Air pollution was responsible for 8.6% of coronary heart disease total burden, 8.3% of stroke burden, 6.7% of both COPD and type 2 diabetes burden, 5.7% of lower respiratory infections burden and 3.4% of lung cancer burden.