Billions of people continue to breathe unhealthy air: new WHO data

Almost the entire world population (99%) breathes air that exceeds the WHO air quality limits and endangers their health. A record number of over 6,000 cities in 117 countries now monitor air quality, but people living in them still inhale unhealthy levels of fine particles and nitrogen dioxide, with people in low- and middle-income countries being the most exposed.

The findings prompted the World Health Organization to emphasize the importance of combating the use of fossil fuels and taking other tangible steps to reduce air pollution.

Published on the eve of World Health Day, which this year marks the topic Our planet, our health, the update of the World Health Organization’s air quality database for 2022 for the first time introduces measurements of average annual concentrations of nitrogen dioxide on earth. (NOT₂), a common urban pollutant and precursor to particulate matter and ozone. It also includes measurements of particles with a diameter equal to or less than 10 μm (PM₁₀) or 2.5 μm (PM_2.5). Both groups of pollutants originate mainly from human activities related to the combustion of fossil fuels.

The new air quality database is the most comprehensive to date in covering exposure to ground-based air pollution. Another 2,000 cities / towns are now recording soil monitoring data for particulate matter, PM₁₀ and / or PM_2.5, than the last update. This marks an almost sixfold increase in reporting since the database was launched in 2011.

Meanwhile, the evidence base for the damage that air pollution causes to the human body is growing rapidly and points to significant damage caused by even low levels of many air pollutants.

Solids, especially PM_2.5, is able to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular, cerebrovascular (stroke) and respiratory effects. There is evidence that particles affect other organs and cause other diseases.

NOT₂ is associated with respiratory diseases, especially asthma, leading to respiratory symptoms (such as coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing), hospitalization, and emergency room visits

The WHO revised its Air Quality Guidelines last year, making them stricter in an effort to help countries better assess the health of their own air.

“Current concerns about energy underscore the importance of accelerating the transition to cleaner and healthier energy systems,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “High fossil fuel prices, energy security and the urgency of addressing the dual health challenges of air pollution and climate change underscore the urgent need to move faster towards a world that is much less dependent on fossil fuels.”

Steps that governments can take to improve air quality and health

Numerous governments are taking steps to improve air quality, but the WHO is calling for swift intensification of activities to:

• Adopt or revise and implement national air quality standards in line with the latest WHO Air Quality Guidelines
• Monitor air quality and identify sources of air pollution
• Support the transition to the exclusive use of clean household energy for cooking, heating and lighting
• Build safe and affordable public transportation systems and networks tailored to pedestrians and bicycles
• Implement stricter standards on vehicle emissions and efficiency; and carry out mandatory vehicle inspection and maintenance
  • Invest in energy efficient housing and electricity generation
  • Improve the industry and municipal waste management
  • Reduce agricultural waste incineration, forest fires and certain agroforestry activities (eg charcoal production)
  • Incorporate air pollution into curricula for health professionals and provide tools for health sector participation.