Who's Global Air Quality Efforts: A Healthier Future

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working to address the global health threat of air pollution. In 2019, air pollution was the largest environmental risk to health, causing an estimated 7 million premature deaths annually. WHO has developed air quality guidelines that provide recommendations for reducing key air pollutants, which are based on scientific evidence and extensive consultations. These guidelines are designed to help countries achieve recommended air quality levels and protect public health. WHO also monitors and reports on global trends, raises awareness about the risks of air pollution, and collaborates with various organizations to address this issue. The organization's air quality database plays a crucial role in increasing awareness and informing policies.

WHO's air quality guidelines recommend levels and targets for common air pollutants

The World Health Organization's Air quality guidelines (AQG) are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants. The guidelines are designed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The first release of the guidelines was in 1987, with several updated versions appearing since then. The latest global version was published in 2005, and the guidelines are regularly updated to assure their continued relevance and to support a broad range of policy options for air-quality management.

The AQGs provide robust evidence-informed guidance to protect public health from air pollution. While the guidelines are not legally binding recommendations, they can be used as a reference tool to help decision-makers set legally binding standards and goals for air quality management at the international, national, and local levels. The guidelines incorporate scientific evidence from multiple countries, making them relevant to diverse conditions around the world. They are intended to be used in all WHO regions and to support a range of policy options for air quality management.

The updated WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) provide recommendations on air quality guideline levels and interim targets for six key air pollutants: PM, O3, NO2, and SO2. These guidelines also offer qualitative statements on good practices for the management of certain types of particulate matter (PM), such as black carbon/elemental carbon, ultrafine particles, and particles originating from sand and dust storms. Interim targets guide reduction efforts towards the timely achievement of AQG levels, and good practice statements help manage certain types of particulate matter when numerical AQG levels cannot be established.

The WHO monitors and reports on global trends and changes in health outcomes associated with actions taken to address air pollution at the national, regional, and global levels. The organization has developed and implemented strategies to raise awareness of the risks of air pollution and the available solutions to mitigate exposure. Through digital outreach and partnerships, the WHO has helped enrich the value proposition of addressing air pollution for health and environment ministries, city governments, and other stakeholders from sectors with significant emissions.

WHO monitors and reports on global trends and changes in health outcomes associated with actions taken to address air pollution

The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a crucial role in monitoring and reporting on global trends and changes in health outcomes associated with actions taken to address air pollution. WHO recognizes that air pollution is a significant threat to public health worldwide, causing approximately 7 million premature deaths annually. The organization has developed various strategies and guidelines to address this issue and protect public health.

One of WHO's key roles is to provide evidence-based guidelines and recommendations for improving air quality. The WHO Air Quality Guidelines are designed to help countries achieve recommended air quality levels and reduce the health impacts of air pollution. These guidelines are based on extensive scientific research and consultations with experts worldwide. They offer interim targets for reducing common air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). By following these guidelines, countries can gradually improve air quality and reduce the burden of diseases associated with air pollution.

WHO also actively monitors and reports on global air pollution trends and health outcomes. The organization has developed the WHO Air Quality Database, which contains data from thousands of human settlements worldwide. This database is crucial for increasing awareness of air pollution, calculating global exposures, and understanding the corresponding health impacts. The availability of this data is essential for modelling air quality and informing regional and global policies to address air pollution effectively.

In addition to monitoring and reporting, WHO plays a vital role in raising awareness about the risks of air pollution and promoting solutions. Through digital outreach and partnerships, WHO has helped various stakeholders, including health and environment ministries and city governments, understand the importance of addressing air pollution. The organization has also developed initiatives such as the Household Multiple Emission Sources (HOMES) model to assist policymakers and program planners in making informed decisions about household air pollution levels.

Furthermore, WHO collaborates with academic institutions, governmental and nongovernmental agencies, and other organizations to address air pollution. These collaborations aim to develop training modules and build the capacity of the health workforce to engage in multisectoral action with sectors such as transport and energy. By working together, WHO and its partners can advocate for policy changes and global modelling to combat air pollution and its health impacts effectively.

WHO raises awareness on the risk of air pollution and the solutions to mitigate exposure

Air pollution is a complex mixture of solid particles, liquid droplets, and gases. It is a major threat to health and climate, causing an estimated 7 million premature deaths annually. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution was the largest environmental risk to health in 2019, with almost all of the global population (99%) breathing air that exceeds WHO guideline limits.

WHO raises awareness about the risk of air pollution and the solutions to mitigate exposure through various initiatives and guidelines:

• WHO Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs): These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for limit values of specific air pollutants, helping countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The guidelines are designed to support diverse conditions and policy options for air quality management. While not legally binding, they offer guidance to governments and policymakers to reduce the health impacts of air pollution. The 2021 update included recommendations for six classical pollutants: particulate matter (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO).
• WHO Household Multiple Emission Sources (HOMES) model: This model assists policymakers and program planners in understanding household air pollution levels and developing interventions.
• WHO Air Quality, Energy, and Health Science and Policy Summaries (SPS): These summaries provide concise information on the current knowledge and evidence related to air quality, energy, and health.
• WHO Air Quality Database: This database contains air quality data from thousands of human settlements worldwide, helping to increase awareness of air pollution levels and their health impacts. It also aids in calculating global exposures and the burden of disease attributable to air pollution.
• Training and Capacity Building: WHO develops training modules and webinars to build the capacity of the health workforce. This enables them to engage in multisectoral action with sectors like transport and energy, ensuring health is considered in policy planning.
• Partnerships and Collaboration: WHO collaborates with academic institutions, governmental and nongovernmental agencies, and organizations like the World Meteorological Organization and UNEP to address air quality issues globally.
• Digital Outreach: Through digital platforms and partnerships, WHO raises awareness among stakeholders from sectors with significant emissions, emphasizing the value of addressing air pollution for health and the environment.
• Clean Energy Promotion: WHO supports the promotion of clean energy alternatives and the elimination of polluting cooking fuels, particularly in urban areas.

By raising awareness and providing solutions, WHO plays a crucial role in mitigating the risks of air pollution exposure and improving global health outcomes.

WHO provides a global air quality database to increase awareness of the health risks of air pollution

Air pollution is a global health risk factor associated with close to 7 million deaths every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working to address this issue by providing a global air quality database, among other initiatives.

The WHO's global air quality database is a crucial tool for increasing awareness of air pollution and its associated health risks. The database contains data from thousands of human settlements worldwide, allowing for the estimation of air pollution levels and the identification of areas lacking air quality monitoring. This information is essential for assessing the health impacts of air pollution and developing effective policies to address the issue.

The WHO's database has seen significant progress since its first publication in 2011, with a sixfold increase in the number of settlements included by 2022. However, it is important to note that the majority of the settlements in the database are in high- and middle-income countries, with a particular focus on China, Europe, India, and North America. This disparity highlights the need for improved monitoring and data availability in low- and middle-income countries, where air pollution poses the greatest health risks.

The WHO's global air quality database is just one aspect of its efforts to address air pollution. The organization also provides air quality guidelines, which offer evidence-based recommendations for limit values of specific air pollutants. These guidelines are designed to support countries in achieving air quality standards that protect public health. Additionally, the WHO monitors and reports on global trends and changes in health outcomes associated with actions taken to address air pollution, and works closely with other organizations on advocacy and global modelling.

Furthermore, the WHO has developed strategies to raise awareness about the risks of air pollution and the available solutions. Through digital outreach and partnerships, the organization has helped to enrich the value proposition of addressing air pollution for various stakeholders, including health and environment ministries and city governments. The WHO also offers training modules and webinars to build the capacity of the health workforce to engage in multisectoral action, ensuring that health is considered in policy planning.

WHO is developing training modules to help build the capacity of the health workforce to engage in multisectoral action with the transport and energy sectors

Air pollution is a global health risk factor and is associated with close to 7 million deaths every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working to address this issue by developing and implementing strategies to raise awareness about the risks of air pollution and possible solutions. They have also been monitoring and reporting on global trends and changes in health outcomes related to actions taken to tackle air pollution.

WHO's Air Quality Guidelines provide recommended levels and interim targets for common air pollutants, such as PM, O3, NO2, and SO2. These guidelines are based on scientific evidence and are designed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. While they are not legally binding, they serve as a tool for policymakers to guide legislation and policies aimed at reducing air pollution levels.

WHO is committed to building the capacity of the health workforce to address air pollution. They are currently developing training modules that cover exposure and health impact assessments, among other topics. These training modules will be conducted through various mediums, including in-person sessions and the OpenWHO platform, to ensure accessibility.

One of the key focuses of these training modules is to enable the health workforce to engage in multisectoral action with the transport and energy sectors. This is crucial because the combustion of fuels in these sectors contributes significantly to air pollution. By collaborating with these sectors, the health workforce can ensure that health considerations are integrated into policy planning, thereby reducing the health impacts of air pollution.

Furthermore, these training modules will be adapted into webinars, allowing for broader participation and knowledge dissemination. Through these initiatives, WHO aims to empower health professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle air pollution effectively and promote multisectoral collaboration for comprehensive solutions.

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