Air Pollution Database: Geneva's Global Warning

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been at the forefront of increasing awareness about the health risks of air pollution. Since 2011, the WHO has been compiling and publishing ground measurements of air quality, specifically the annual mean concentrations of particulate matter. The WHO's air quality database, which was last updated in 2024, contains data from over 7000 human settlements in more than 100 countries. The database is crucial for raising awareness about air pollution, tracking progress, and advocating for actions to improve air quality.

The database contains data from over 7000 human settlements in more than 100 countries

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been at the forefront of increasing awareness about the health risks of air pollution. In 2022, the WHO released an updated version of its air quality database status report. This report contains data from about 6743 human settlements, a significant increase from 1102 settlements in its first publication in 2011. The 2024 update, released in Geneva, contains data from over 7000 human settlements in more than 100 countries.

The WHO air quality database compiles data on ground measurements of annual mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter of a diameter equal to or smaller than 10 μm (PM10), or equal to or smaller than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). These measurements aim to represent an average for the city or town as a whole, rather than individual stations. The mean annual concentration of fine suspended particles of less than 2.5 microns in diameter is a common measure of air pollution. High-quality measurements of PM concentration from all the monitors in a metropolitan area can be averaged to develop a single estimate.

The primary sources of data for the WHO air quality database are official country reports sent to the WHO upon request, official national and subnational reports, and national and subnational websites that contain measurements of PM10, PM2.5, or NO2. The database is updated regularly every 2-3 years and is used as input to derive the Sustainable Development Goal Indicator 11.6.2, Air quality in cities, for which the WHO is the custodial agency.

The availability of data on measured air pollution levels based on ground monitors has increased substantially in the past few decades. The use of information on pollutant emissions and their atmospheric transport and reactions, coupled with remote measurements of pollutant concentrations from satellites and calibrated with ground measurements by complex statistical models, has resulted in well-correlated estimates. This approach also allows for the estimation of pollutant concentrations in places that lack air quality monitoring data and encourages the improvement of global monitoring data availability.

The data is compiled from ground measurements of annual mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, etc

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been at the forefront of increasing awareness about the health risks of air pollution. Since 2011, WHO has been compiling and publishing ground measurements of air quality, specifically the annual mean concentrations of particulate matter. The data is compiled from ground measurements of annual mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and other pollutants that originate mainly from human activities related to fossil fuel combustion.

The WHO Ambient Air Quality Database is a global database that provides information on air pollution levels worldwide. It contains data from about 6743 human settlements, a sixfold increase from 1102 settlements in its first publication in 2011. The database includes measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter of a diameter equal to or smaller than 10 μm (PM10), and particulate matter of a diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). These measurements aim to represent an average for a city or town as a whole, rather than individual stations.

The primary sources of data for the WHO database are official country reports sent to WHO upon request, official national and subnational reports, and national and subnational websites that contain measurements of PM10, PM2.5, or NO2. The database also utilizes ground measurements calibrated with complex statistical models and remote measurements of pollutant concentrations from satellites. This approach allows for the estimation of pollutant concentrations in places that lack air quality monitoring data and encourages the improvement of global monitoring data availability.

The WHO database is crucial for increasing awareness about air pollution and its health impacts. It serves as a resource for countries and the global community to establish baselines, track progress, draw comparisons, and advocate for actions to improve air quality. The data is also essential for modelling air quality, which informs regional and global policies. Additionally, the database is used to derive the Sustainable Development Goal Indicator 11.6.2, "Air quality in cities," for which WHO is the custodial agency.

The WHO has been regularly updating its air quality guidelines since the 1980s and has played a key role in the development and implementation of tools to estimate the burden of diseases attributable to exposure to air pollution. The organization also maintains a Global Database of Household Air Pollution Measurements, which provides an overview of methods and results from studies reporting household air pollution measurements. This database is useful for understanding the range of household and outdoor air pollution measurements in different countries and regions.

The database is updated regularly every 2-3 years since 2011

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been at the forefront of increasing awareness about the health risks of air pollution. Since 2011, the WHO has been compiling and publishing ground measurements of air quality, specifically the annual mean concentrations of particulate matter. The database is updated regularly every 2-3 years and is crucial for raising awareness about air pollution and its health impacts.

The WHO Ambient Air Quality Database, first published in 2011, has seen significant growth in the number of human settlements included. The latest version, released in January 2024, covers data from 7,182 human settlements in over 120 member states. This is a substantial increase from the initial publication in 2011, which featured data from 1,102 settlements. The database provides essential information for countries and the global community to establish baselines, track progress, make comparisons, and advocate for necessary actions to improve air quality.

The data in the database is sourced primarily from official country reports sent to the WHO upon request, official national and subnational reports, and national and subnational websites that contain measurements of PM10, PM2.5, or NO2. These measurements are taken from fixed-site, population-oriented monitors located within metropolitan areas. The use of satellite data, population estimates, and ground measurements helps to improve the accuracy of the modelling.

The WHO's efforts to monitor and address air pollution date back to the 1970s, with the launch of the urban air quality monitoring pilot project in 1973. Since then, the organization has continuously worked to improve data comparability among different countries and assess global air pollution levels and trends. The database is an invaluable tool for policymakers and researchers, providing insights into the health risks associated with air pollution and guiding interventions to improve air quality and protect public health.

The WHO also maintains a Global Database of Household Air Pollution Measurements, which provides an overview of methods and results from studies reporting household air pollution measurements. This database, last updated in 2018, contains measurements from 196 studies across 43 countries. It serves as a valuable resource for understanding the range of household and outdoor air pollution measurements conducted in different regions.

The data is used to inform regional and global policies on air quality

The World Health Organization (WHO) plays a crucial role in raising awareness about the health risks of air pollution and has been actively involved in monitoring and compiling air quality data since the 1970s. The WHO's air quality database, which is regularly updated, provides valuable information on ground measurements of annual mean concentrations of pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). These pollutants are primarily by-products of human activities related to fossil fuel combustion.

The data compiled in the WHO air quality database serves as a critical input for formulating regional and global policies aimed at improving air quality. It helps establish a baseline, track progress, enable comparisons, and advocate for necessary actions. The availability of comprehensive data on air pollution levels empowers countries and the global community to make informed decisions and develop effective strategies to address this issue.

The database has evolved significantly since its early versions, with the 2022 update hosting data from over 600 human settlements in more than 100 countries. The most recent update, released in January 2024, includes data from 7,182 human settlements across more than 120 member states. This expansion reflects a growing global recognition of air pollution as a pressing health priority.

The WHO's efforts extend beyond data compilation. They have also developed and implemented tools to estimate the burden of diseases attributable to air pollution exposure. Additionally, the organization has been instrumental in producing scientific reports on debated aspects of air pollution and regularly updating air quality guidelines. The data and tools provided by the WHO are vital resources for policymakers, researchers, and public health professionals working to mitigate the harmful impacts of air pollution on human health and the environment.

The data collected by the WHO is also used to inform the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG indicator 11.6.2, which focuses on air quality in cities. WHO is the custodial agency for this indicator, and the data helps track progress toward improving air quality in urban areas. Furthermore, the Global Database of Household Air Pollution Measurements, commissioned by the WHO, provides valuable insights into household and outdoor air pollution measurements in various countries and regions.

The database is crucial for increasing awareness of air pollution and its health risks

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been at the forefront of efforts to increase awareness of air pollution and its health risks. Since the 1980s, WHO has played a crucial role in updating air quality guidelines, producing scientific reports on debated aspects of air pollution, and compiling and publishing routinely measured data in its air quality database. The organization has also been instrumental in developing and implementing tools to estimate the burden of diseases attributable to exposure to air pollution.

The WHO air quality database is a crucial tool in increasing awareness about air pollution and its health risks. The database compiles ground measurements of annual mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM) with diameters of less than 10 μm (PM10) or less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). These measurements aim to represent average levels for entire cities or towns, rather than individual stations. The data is collected from various sources, including official country reports, national and subnational reports, and websites containing PM measurements.

The database is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it helps establish a baseline for air quality and enables the tracking of progress and comparisons over time. This data is vital for countries and the global community to make informed decisions and advocate for necessary actions. Secondly, the database covers a wide geographic area, including data from over 7,000 human settlements in more than 120 member states. This comprehensive coverage allows for a more accurate understanding of air pollution levels and trends worldwide.

Moreover, the database fills a critical gap in monitoring air pollution levels, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where air quality monitoring may be lacking. By providing data on measured air pollution levels, the database helps address the issue of limited monitoring in certain regions. This is significant because air pollution is a major health risk, with almost the entire global population (99%) exposed to dangerous levels that increase their risk of various diseases, including heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

The WHO database also encourages the improvement of global monitoring data availability. By utilizing information on pollutant emissions, atmospheric transport, and reactions, along with remote measurements from satellites and ground measurements, the database can estimate pollutant concentrations even in places with limited monitoring capabilities. This approach enhances our understanding of source contributions and guides national policies and interventions to mitigate air pollution effectively.

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