Air Quality Alert: Breathing Polluted Air?

The air we breathe is a matter of life and death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of the world's population breathes polluted air that exceeds international air quality limits, with fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide posing the most significant health risks. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need to address air pollution and its detrimental impact on human health, contributing to an estimated 7 million deaths annually. While progress has been made in some regions, high pollution levels persist, particularly in low and middle-income countries, threatening the well-being of billions and demanding immediate action for a sustainable future.

The impact of fossil fuels

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of the world's population breathes polluted air that exceeds internationally approved limits. This means that almost everyone is exposed to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, lung disease, cancer, and pneumonia. Fossil fuels are responsible for most of the harmful emissions linked to acute and chronic sickness.

Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, gasoline, and diesel, releases fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which can enter the bloodstream and cause multiple health issues, including asthma, cancer, heart disease, and premature death. Globally, fossil fuel pollution is responsible for one in five deaths, with 350,000 premature deaths attributed to fossil fuel-related pollution in the United States alone in 2018. The annual cost of the health impacts of fossil fuel-generated electricity in the US is estimated to be up to $886.5 billion.

In addition to air pollution, the use of fossil fuels also has significant water pollution impacts. Oil spills and fracking fluids contaminate water sources, and the wastewater generated by fracking can contain toxic substances like arsenic, lead, chlorine, and mercury. Fossil fuel emissions contribute to ocean acidification, with at least a quarter of the carbon dioxide emitted being absorbed by the ocean, altering its chemistry.

The consequences of burning fossil fuels are evident in the melting of glaciers, rising sea levels, and increasing global temperature averages. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), fossil fuel emissions must be halved within 11 years if global warming is to be limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, a recent report by the UN Environment Programme indicates that we are on track to produce more than double the amount of coal, oil, and gas by 2030 than we can burn to stay within this limit.

Health risks

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds the WHO's air quality guidelines. This air pollution poses a significant risk to human health, causing around 7 million deaths per year globally. The health risks associated with air pollution are extensive and include:

Premature Death and Reduced Life Expectancy: Both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to premature death and shorten life expectancy. The evidence for this has been known for decades.

Cardiovascular and Respiratory Issues: Fine particles in polluted air, particularly PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular issues, including heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, air pollution can irritate the lungs, causing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, and can worsen symptoms for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Cancer: Air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer, and potentially other forms of cancer.

Low Infant Birth Weight and Infant Mortality: Studies suggest that exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may increase the risk of low infant birth weight and contribute to infant mortality.

Mental Health Concerns: There is emerging research indicating links between air pollution and mental health issues.

Worsened Health Outcomes for Vulnerable Populations: Air pollution disproportionately affects certain vulnerable populations, including children, older adults, people with pre-existing health conditions, people of colour, and individuals from low-income communities. People living in low and middle-income countries also tend to suffer higher exposures to air pollution.

Air quality guidelines

Air pollution is a complex mixture of solid particles, liquid droplets, and gases. It can come from many sources, such as household fuel burning, industrial chimneys, traffic exhausts, power generation, open burning of waste, agricultural practices, desert dust, and many other sources. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO air quality limits, threatening their health.

WHO Air Quality Guidelines:

The WHO Air Quality Guidelines are a set of evidence-based recommendations of limit values for specific air pollutants. They are designed to help countries achieve air quality that protects public health. The guidelines are based on systematic literature reviews, rigorous evaluation methods, and extensive consultation with experts and end-users from all regions of the world. While they are not legally binding, they are intended to guide countries in reducing the health impacts of air pollution.

The guidelines recommend levels and interim targets for common air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). These recommendations are updated regularly to reflect new health studies and scientific evidence, with the latest global version published in 2005 and an update released in 2021.

Strategies and Actions:

WHO has developed strategies to raise awareness about the risks of air pollution and promote solutions. This includes digital outreach, partnerships, and initiatives for healthy sectoral policies, such as cleaner energy and transport, energy-efficient housing, and better waste management. The BreatheLife campaign, a partnership between WHO, UN Environment, and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, aims to increase awareness and encourage citizens to take action.

Global Efforts:

Over 6000 cities in 117 countries are monitoring air quality, but people in low and middle-income countries continue to suffer the highest exposures. Updated data from WHO shows that 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe air containing high levels of pollutants, causing an estimated 7 million deaths annually. The highest ambient air pollution levels are in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and South-East Asia, followed by low and middle-income cities in Africa and the Western Pacific.

Health Impacts:

Air pollution has been linked to various diseases and health risks, including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory diseases, and asthma. It is also recognized as a risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer. The economic toll of air pollution is significant, impacting healthcare systems and societies worldwide.

Air pollution data

Air pollution is a pressing issue that poses a major threat to health worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds recommended air quality limits, putting their health at risk. This means that almost everyone is facing an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, lung disease, cancer, and pneumonia.

WHO's data reveals that air pollution is responsible for about 7 million deaths annually. Ambient air pollution alone caused approximately 4.2 million deaths in 2016, while household air pollution from cooking with polluting fuels and technologies accounted for an estimated 3.8 million deaths during the same period. The highest levels of ambient air pollution are found in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and South-East Asia, with annual mean levels frequently exceeding five times the WHO limits.

In recent years, there has been a growing momentum for better air quality. More than 6,000 cities in 117 countries now monitor air quality, a significant increase from a decade ago when only 1,100 cities in 91 countries did so. However, despite this progress, the majority of these cities still do not meet air quality guidelines. People in low and middle-income countries suffer the highest exposures to unhealthy air, with over 3 billion people, mostly women and children, breathing deadly smoke daily from using polluting stoves and fuels.

To address this global health crisis, WHO has urged governments to take tangible steps to curb fossil fuel use, as fossil fuels are responsible for most harmful emissions. Additionally, WHO has made significant revisions to its air quality indicators, including for particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), to help countries better evaluate the healthiness of their air.

Various tools and resources are available to access air pollution data. WHO provides an air pollution data portal that monitors exposure levels and health impacts at the national, regional, and global levels. The organization also collaborates with partners like the University of Exeter and UN Environment to develop models and campaigns that raise awareness and encourage action on air pollution. Furthermore, websites like AirNow.gov and Our World in Data offer interactive maps and charts to explore air quality data and research on the health impacts of indoor and outdoor air pollution.

Action and solutions

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of the world's population breathes air that exceeds the WHO's guideline limits for pollutants, with those in low- and middle-income countries suffering the most. This means that almost everyone is at an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, lung disease, cancer, and pneumonia.

• Government Action: Achieving cleaner air is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and governments must take coordinated action at all levels to address this issue. This includes implementing policies and investments that support sustainable land use, cleaner household energy, transport, energy-efficient housing, and better waste management. Governments should also work towards reducing emissions from major outdoor pollution sources, such as residential energy for cooking and heating, vehicles, power generation, agriculture/waste incineration, and industry.
• International Cooperation: Countries need to work together to find solutions for sustainable transport, more efficient and renewable energy production and use, and improved waste management. International cooperation can help share best practices and technologies for reducing air pollution.
• Addressing Social Inequalities: Air pollution disproportionately affects the poorest and most marginalized communities, particularly women and children in low-income households. Efforts to improve air quality should focus on ensuring that vulnerable areas are not overburdened and that resources are directed to those who need them the most.
• Public Awareness and Education: WHO has developed strategies to raise awareness about the risks of air pollution and the available solutions. Increasing public awareness can help drive individual action and put pressure on governments and industries to prioritize air quality improvements.
• Clean Energy Transition: There is a growing evidence base highlighting the harm caused by even low levels of air pollutants, particularly those from the combustion of fossil fuels. Accelerating the transition to cleaner and healthier energy systems, such as renewable energy sources, is crucial for reducing air pollution and mitigating climate change.
• Air Quality Monitoring and Assessment: More cities are measuring and taking action to reduce air pollution than ever before, with over 6,000 cities in 117 countries now monitoring air quality. This trend should be encouraged and scaled up worldwide, as it provides critical data for informing policies and interventions to improve air quality.
• Initiatives for Healthy Sectoral Policies: WHO promotes interventions that address key risks to health from indoor and outdoor air pollution and contribute to achieving health co-benefits from climate change mitigation policies. This includes supporting the electrification of healthcare facilities and promoting sustainable urban development.
• Community-Level Actions: Individuals can take action to reduce their contribution to air pollution, such as by leaving their car behind and using alternative forms of transport, as encouraged by the BreatheLife campaign.

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