This report evaluates the reduction in mortality associated with improved air quality in Kraków, focusing specifically on black carbon (BC), a toxic component of particulate matter closely linked to the combustion of solid fuels such as coal and biomass. Due to limited long-term BC monitoring data, the study applies a methodology that estimates historical BC concentrations using PM2.5 measurements and BC/PM2.5 ratios derived from University of Wrocław observations.
The results indicate that reductions in BC concentrations in Kraków may have contributed to avoiding 3,368 to 7,655 premature deaths between 2011 and 2023. The uncertainty range primarily reflects the limited availability of long-term BC measurements and the need to estimate BC levels indirectly from PM2.5 data. The report also outlines key limitations, including seasonal and meteorological variability and the incomplete isolation of other factors influencing mortality.
