in-cyprus 3 December 2025
Researchers at The Cyprus Institute have produced the first global dataset of ultrafine particle concentrations, revealing major differences between clean natural environments and urban areas.
The tiny particles are invisible to the human eye but can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream, posing a significant threat to human health, according to the study.
Air pollutants with diameters less than 10 μm (PM10) and 2.5 μm (PM2.5) have long been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Growing evidence suggests that ultrafine particles (UFPs), which are significantly smaller with a diameter of less than 0.01 μm, also pose a major health risk due to their ability to reach critical organs such as the lungs and bloodstream.
However, global data on UFP levels has been extremely limited.
Researchers at the Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre (CARE-C) and the Computation-based Science and Technology Research Centre (CaSToRC) developed a machine learning model using real ground-station measurements. The model generates high-resolution global UFP maps at 1 km spatial resolution spanning the 2010-2019 decade.
The results, published in Nature’s Scientific Data journal, show that pristine environments such as forested and unpopulated regions often contain only a few thousand particles per cubic centimetre, whereas major cities routinely exceed 40,000. Ultrafine particles account for roughly 91% of all airborne particles by number.
There are currently no specific concentration limits set for UFPs. However, the new EU Air Quality Directive (EU2024/2881), expected to be implemented from 2026, requires member states to monitor UFP in ambient air, with results to inform decisions on future limits in line with World Health Organisation guidelines.
Dr Pantelis Georgiades, lead author of the study, said the new global dataset enables scientists, governments and public health organisations to identify pollution hotspots, assess health impacts and design targeted interventions.
He said that by revealing the worldwide distribution of ultrafine particles in such detail, the Cyprus Institute’s research provides a crucial foundation for addressing one of the most overlooked threats to human health.
